Communications networks of the future will be service-dominated, not technology-dominated.
Speakers from Siemens Telecommunications, Telkom and Marconi talked about the Next Generation Network concept at the Futurex 2004 conference in Sandton this morning.
Pete da Silva, CEO of Siemens Telecommunications, said he had a simple view of the future of telecommunications. "At the macro level, I see only one network. I should not care to which network I`m connected, it should be always on, like the electricity network."
He said telecoms operators and suppliers have to simplify what they are doing, focusing on service provisioning and not network provisioning.
"On that one network I want to be able to make use of benefits hosted by other networks," said Da Silva. "We are already seeing many types of convergence. For example, soon you`ll be able to SMS or MMS your fixed-line at home."
Another example of convergence is the trial of push-to-talk services over mobile networks, providing walkie-talkie-type functionality.
To achieve interoperability at the macro level, there needs to be a lot of activity at the micro level, said Da Silva. "We`ll still have many separate networks that will have to seamlessly interoperate. The protocol that will enable this will be none other than the Internet Protocol - but it`s just a protocol. We`ll have ongoing changes, including the possible change of the protocols."
To make separate networks look like one network, Da Silva said applications that seamlessly run across disparate networks are needed. "This means the merging of telecoms and IT, and will open the doors to smaller players. Because these applications need to be innovative and delivered fast, they will be delivered by new, emerging players."
The vision of a unified, service-based network poses massive challenges to operators, vendors and the whole industry, said Da Silva. "The business models will not stay the same. In a fully deregulated environment, operators will have to focus on the customers and adopt service-based models, spending a lot more in the marketing environment."
But the networks will have to run, and the vendors will have to have their pound of flesh as well, noted Da Silva. "They can take the load away from the operators and run the network - in the IT industry this is called outsourcing, we call it managed services."
This vision of a service-based "one network" of the future can only work if everyone plays their part - regulator, operators and suppliers.
Marius Mostert, executive for technology strategy and integration at Telkom, presented "another perspective on the Next Generation Network (NGN)".
He agreed with Da Silva that the required scenario for the NGN is to move from technology-dominated networks to service-dominated networks. "Technology is not the challenge, technology exists. It is not a competitive advantage because anyone can source technology. The focus needs to be on services, supported by appropriate technologies."
The NGN is a journey rather than a destination, said George Debbo, technical director at Marconi Communications. "There is no single blueprint as to how you are going to get to the NGN. There are many alternatives and they must be decided by you, depending on your conditions. The important thing is - we`ll all get to the NGN one day. We believe it is the best concept around."
Mostert agreed, saying the challenge is to have leadership in the government, operator and vendor community make the correct decisions.
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