2NGN architecture evolution towards Future Network architectures

There have been identified 2 main streams of potential development:

  1. Clean slate approach or revolution principle – Future Internet, where new architecture and protocols for Future Internet will be newly defined and designed (new network scenarios, models of new protocols and testing of revolutionary architecture modes), [1]. The revolutionary jump is expected as if the Internet had been designed from clean slate approach, by new technologies, not limited by present concepts.
  2. Evolutionary concept where existing NGN architectures are enhanced by new requirements and functions leading to concept called Future Networks [1], [2]. NGN evolution can achieve expected capabilities of Future Networks using existing protocols and capabilities of NGN (enabled just with necessary enhancement of architecture and control mechanisms).

The second concept is more realistic approach towards Future networks from migration point of view where NGN networks and technologies are already available.

It is appropriate to look into the evolution and to outline of NGN future trends and the open issues to be solved as well. Migration scenarios of different types of networks platforms are based on the idea to integrate TDM and IP platforms into one converged NGN platform (from the point of network infrastructure, as well as services). New concepts and architectures of new generation of ICT based on converged ICT and NGN offer to operators new opportunities to implement and provide wide spectrum of multimedia services and applications.

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Fig. 1 - From vertical silos to horizontal NGN architecture [1]

Therefore operators can move from vertical silo architecture where each type of service has dedicated access, transport, control and application infrastructure per service, to horizontally oriented architecture more independent from provided services (Fig. 1).