TELECOM NETWORKS CONVERGENT ARCHITECTURE AND MIGRATION STRATEGIES FOR OPERATORS

Abstract

Advances in packet, digital and optical technologies are catalyst for converged network architecture that is scalable, robust, flexible and reliable. Converged networks should support voice, data and video traffic. This network must also be packet based. Packet based networks usually have IP and or ATM interfaces. The resultant effect is that knowledgeable telecom operators can leverage their networks to provide IP or ATM services to corporate or Service providers. Unless an operator can exploit the corporate and service providers business, it may be out of business before this decade runs out. Moreover, operators can also leverage the migrated networks to become an ISP by converting some or all their networks to Internet points of Presence (PoP). Operators would have no alternative but to migrate their networks. AT&T and BT, telecom giants in the USA and UK respectively are telephone operators, service providers and ISP. No doubt, some Nigerian operators can follow this lead. This paper discusses converged Telecom Networks architecture and suggests the migration strategies that operators need to adopt or follow in order to prepare their networks for the business of today and tomorrow.