The researchers involved in this study are Rashmi Kamran, Shwetha Kiran, Pranav Jha, Rashmi Yadav, Abhay Karandikar, and Prasanna Chaporkar. They are affiliated with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and their work focuses on the evolution of Next Generation Networks (NGN) and their implications for future telecommunications.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has defined NGN as the foundation for most wireline and wireless packet-based telecommunications networks. A core principle of NGN design is the separation of service-related functions from the underlying transport layer, which allows user services to operate independently of the transport technologies. However, the current NGN architecture does not fully adhere to this principle for internal network services such as mobility and authentication. These services are managed by the NGN transport control plane, creating a tight coupling between service and transport functions. This design choice can lead to inefficiencies, such as the need for separate authentication services for each transport technology.
The recently published ITU Y.2325 recommendation addresses this issue by proposing an evolved NGN architecture. This new architecture decouples all services, including internal network services, from the transport stratum. The result is a more scalable and modular NGN architecture that can serve as a template for future telecom networks, including the upcoming IMT-2030 (6th generation mobile networks). The researchers review this evolved NGN architecture in their article, highlighting its potential benefits for the telecommunications industry.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are significant. As the energy industry increasingly relies on telecommunications networks for smart grid management, remote monitoring, and data transmission, a more efficient and scalable network architecture can enhance overall system performance. The evolved NGN architecture proposed in ITU Y.2325 could facilitate better integration of energy services with telecommunications networks, leading to improved reliability and reduced operational costs. This research was published in the ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.