Telkom is taking an evolutionary approach to the so-called Next Generation Network (NGN), Telkom`s Managing Executive of Technology and Network Services, Reuben September, told delegates at the annual South African Telecommunication Network and Applications Conference (SATNAC) in Port Edward today.
SATNAC 2001 is an annual conference featuring speakers from overseas, the telecommunication Industry and the Telkom Centres of Excellence (CoEs). Basing his address on this year`s theme of `Telecommunication Networks and Applications for a Competitive Environment`, September said that throughout the world the telecommunications industry was taking stock after the meltdown of the dot-coms.
"One great lesson learnt is that you don`t build your business on hype but on real demand and proven solutions. The industry has also learnt that the long-term growth and the profitability of the telecommunications sector will be driven largely by broadband, intelligent, value-added and vertical services," he said.
September explained that Telkom was maximizing its existing infrastructure while at the same time adding new functionality to support customer requirements. During the NGN tender process, which Telkom termed the Packet Mode Architecture (PMA) tender, the company had continuously evaluated what was on offer from the vendor community, profiled these against the benchmarking of international operators and developed its network planning accordingly.
"There is global consensus that it is not a question of building a Next Generation Network by simply replacing what we already have in place. Instead, it is about evolving the network from its current position to continually meet customer and business information and communication needs," he said.
September added that Telkom had extensively researched the industry to develop its PMA strategies, centering its approach on three major criteria. These included:
. Single Multi-Service Network that carries all voice, data and video bit streams using Internet Protocol (IP) over common transmission links and routers/switches.
. A PMA network that offers guaranteed quality of service for different types of traffic.
. A network in which service logic is implemented on platforms that are separate from the transport and access layers of the network.
He also announced that the Telkom would be completing its Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) user trial in time for the commercial launch of the service in Gauteng in early 2002. The offering would provide fast access to the Internet and a number of enhanced facilities, such as fast working from home and vertical services such as video on demand. September said that Telkom would introduce ADSL in phases, with the service being rolled out to other major centres in SA after the Gauteng launch.
ADSL is a technology that transforms a copper line into a high-speed channel for Internet, data, information and entertainment communication. ADSL is part of the Digital Subscriber Line family, and Asynchronous means that the downstream and upstream channel speeds are not the same.
ADSL provides speeds of up to 6Mbps down stream and 640kbps upstream, depending on the line length and loop conditions.
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The Telkom Centre of Excellence (CoE) programme is a shining example of collaboration between Telkom, the telecommunications industry and government, and it`s helping to ensure that SA`s brightest young minds don`t succumb to the "brain drain".
Launched in 1997, the programme is not only growing local telecommunications and information technology skills, it`s also yielding substantial benefits for the universities and technikons involved and helping Telkom to solve technical problems and cut costs.
The CoEs are jointly funded by Telkom, telecommunications players in the private sector and the Department of Trade and Industry - through its Technology and Human Resource for Industry Programme (THRIP). There are currently 12 CoEs, located at tertiary institutions around the country. In addition to developing skills in science, engineering and technology, the centres are aimed at creating partnerships between historically disadvantaged and advantaged institutions.
To this end, the institutions are paired, with a previously disadvantaged and an advantaged institution sharing a CoE in which to jointly focus on a specific aspect of telecommunications research. This provides for the transfer of skills and the upliftment of the previously disadvantaged institution, explains Telkom`s head of teletraffic network research and the driving force behind the CoEs, Baron Peterssen.
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