A Vision of full service
'Multi-service network'… 'Next-generation network'…'Full service network'… the buzzwords flourish as major telco players compete to replace today's disparate networks with an integrated IP-based infrastructure for handling telephony, data and multimedia services. Telenor's 'Full Service Network' (FSN) project is a corporate-wide effort in response to this pressing need.
Recent years have seen a paradigm shift within the telecommunications industry. European incumbents are living with increasing competition, the mobile and Internet markets have experienced booms of Klondike proportions and the growing omnipotence of IP 'over and under everything' seems indisputable. And with the growth in Internet traffic driving the need for increased bandwidth, the buzz of broadband and calls for convergence are being replaced by the backbone reality of providing feasible 'next-generation' networks.
Fully aware
Well aware of this oncoming convergence of technologies, business models, services and markets, Telenor has been working hard to develop a new technological strategy to address future needs. When faced with a burgeoning new technology that can (and is) changing market rules, the need to remain at the leading edge becomes a clear priority. The Full Service Network (FSN) project is proof of Telenor's commitment to realising the vision of a common core pure IP network. A backbone that will combine voice, data nets, mobile nets and the Internet to allow the multiple access forms and service bundles, single points-of-contact and common invoicing that e-savvy customers are sure to demand.
Realising the vision
In order to realise the FSN vision, Telenor has harnessed its broad telecom experience and fused this with world-leading Cisco Systems' cutting edge IP expertise - not to mention their high-speed routers and switches. The third major arm of this triumvirate is provided by Hewlett Packard; onboard as system integrators for the network management applications so vital to the successful operation of the FSN. This team has been driving the development of competency within a field regarded as critical for Telenor's future since the spring of 1999, and is now well on its way to establishing and field-testing a prototype network.
FSN project manager Bjørn Netland elaborates, "We have carried out a 'proof of concept' (POC) study of the FSN vision by testing the solution in practice and from a user's perspective. By looking at how existing services and functionality and bandwidth intensive next-generation services can be delivered more efficiently via an all-IP network."
From proof of concept
to commercial services
Whilst phase 1 of the FSN field test focused on residential services - IP telephony, home office and Internet access, phase 2 switched the focus to business-oriented services (application hosting and outsourcing, value-added broadband Internet, unified communications, etc.) and the service bundle has since grown to incorporate private networks, TV distribution, video-on-demand and e-learning. Phase 3 is now being planned and will involve pilots using existing customers to test personalised service delivery plus terminal, user and service mobility.
As Bjørn Netland says, "To this point, the FSN project has been a hands-on development project involving the implementation and testing of the core technology and products. After phase 3 is evaluated I can imagine a 5-10 year horizon during which we will spin off new, product-focused, projects - mobility, SME solutions - while the development of the basic technology continues in parallel. Other Telenor business units will drive this work of developing commercial products and services."
Getting real
So let's get real; what will FSN mean for you and me? Telenor will end up with a backbone accepting data traffic from traditional voice, ATM, Frame Relay, cable, DSL and dial-up platforms which transmits the data at high speeds across a highly efficient, distributed packet-forwarding architecture. But will the users, who don't really care about fancy protocols and bundles, but services, experience enough 'value-added' to compensate for excavators digging cable tracks outside their windows?
"Apart from a limited amount of fibre to the kerb, the copper last mile will not be touched, so there's not much digging involved... " says Netland, "... and the benefits will include vastly improved services, the freedom of self-provisioning and always-on mobility, plus the simplicity of a single subscription and invoice for all services." And that brings us to the question of prices; is the end-user going to foot the bill through higher subscriptions and call fees? Netland responds, "Well, not only will FSN increase the core network's transport capacity and speed dramatically; it will also make it more cost-effective, allowing Telenor to deploy competitively-priced broadband Internet services to business and residential customers alike."
A holistic view
And how does Telenor's FSN project rate amongst the next-generation efforts being hatched by the major players' R&D units? Netland sums up, "Our co-operation with Cisco has produced a competency bundle to be reckoned with and we have a clear focus and strong drive… but what really sets us apart is our advanced holistic vision of the telecommunications infrastructure of the future."
Text by: Kevin Reeder
| 
