NGN- Implementation Issues in

India
By

Satish. D. Alandkar

BE. MBS. (MARKETING). MBS (HRM).

(Sub-Divisional Engineer)

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited,

PUNE, MAHARASHTRA - INDIA

Implementation Issues in NGN

Challenges in NGN

1. Next Generation Network

NGN Features:
Conversed services:
( Network, Service, Technology, Industry Convergence.)
Packet-based (IP) services, including voice, transported
trough packets.
Service related functions independent of transport-related
functions.
High flexibility at all functional levels.
NGN has horizontally integrated control layers with
. Simultaneous delivery of applications.

Supports wide range of services, technologies, applications.

N/w Creates potential business opportunities.
Interoperability.

 Services convergence.
Migration to NGN.

Interconnections .
Competition and co-ordination.
Service Bundling, Pricing, Charging.

Technical issues.
Infrastructure related issues.
Issues related with Investment.
Service Quality and Security issues.

NGN convergence leads to strengthening of market

power.
NGN convergence reduces competition.
Bundling of services.
Resources inadequacy.
Network integration challenges
Traffic management in NGN.
Numbering, addressing and number portability.
Interconnections of different Network topologies.
Cost management.
Billing and accounting.
Quality of Service and security.
Consumer awareness of new product & services

Issue ** In NGN network more reliable and guaranteed

service level for better approach of transmitting data
packets is required for multi-media and real time NGN
services.
Regulatory Authority along with operators, Investors,
Government should plan for:
Better technological convergence.
Interconnection with standard interfaces.
Set certain QoS standards at each level of Interconnection.
Ensure the continuity of regulated interconnection services.
Plan for development of conflict resolution mechanisms.

Issue ** Due to Convergence, only the big players

(Vodafone, AirTel, BSNL, RIL, Tata Indicom) may be able

to provide combined services which will lead to monopoly
of few players .

Regulator has to see that market power will not

disappear in an NGN. Competition among all
operators (small or big like Uninor, YOU Telecom,
Sify, Hathway or any or new entrants) must be able
to maintain healthy competition by:

Allowing number of operators to invest in NGN

at all levels.
Charging minimum entry fees.
Incentives to attract new entrants.
USO funding

Issue ** Number of operators will be involved in network providing

different services as PSTN, WLL, GSM, Broadband, Data Services:
1. Vodafone and AirTel (Mobile-GSM, Broadband-2G/3G)
2. RCom ( Mobile-GSM/CDMA, Broadband-1G/2G/3G, Data),
3. BSNL ( PSTN-Wired, Mobile-GSM/CDMA, Broadband- Wired and
Wireless 2G/3G, Data Services),
4. Tata IndiCom ( PSTN-wired & Wireless CDMA, Mobile-GSM,
Broadband-Wireless).
5. Sify, You Telecom, Hathway (Broadband-Wireless).
Regulatory Authority has to maintain the co-ordination among
service providers, Various services, Investors and Government in
order to maintain Quality of services and smooth functioning at all
functional levels competition.

Issue ** For better implementation of NGN, high quality infrastructure evenly

distributed geographically in India is required.
Indian operators providing wireless services (Voice, Data, Mobile, and
broadband) . Quality of the services is not up to the mark due to poor
existing infrastructure in India. It is due following difficulties:

1. Limited number of own towers.

2. Operators not ready to share n/w of each other.
3. Huge cost involved in tower installations and infrastructure
development.
4. Delay in permissions for infrastructure development from the local
Authorities.
5. Limited spectrum bandwidth.
Actually unbundling discourage new infrastructural investment but in
present situation better infrastructure is possible by unbundling (sharing)
of towers, OF cables, ducts.
Other than wireless media the only media which can support the quality
services in NGN network is Optical fiber cable, OF based n/w is limited

in India , in-between Telephone Exchanges and equipments only.

 Regulator must plan for optical fiber infrastructure network (FTTH /

FTTB) at National, Metro, District and Talula levels to support NGN.
It is difficult today due to:

1. Local authorities not permitting to lay new cables.

2. Heavy reinstatement charges.
3. Heavy developmental cost are involved.
4. Political pressures from local corporators.

Regulatory Authority along with Service Providers, Government bodies,

Investors should plan for growth in OF network which is possible with:

1. Sharing of existing ducts, pipes along roads by all.

2. The reinstatement charges should be minimized.
3. FTTH/FTTB investment should be promoted with
incentives.
4. Plan for USO funding to cover the areas.
5. plan for additional spectrum.

Wireless based Wi-fi, Wi-Max and GSM technologies should be planned

with incentive schemes where the optical network is not possible/available
to cover scattered areas.

Issue ** NGN is having open Structure, separated

functional layers one can join at any level and share the
infrastructure. Number of operators(existing big/small,
new entrants) in the n/w with different assets,
investments.
It is suggested that there should be sharing of open

infrastructure in India.

Plan framework for sharing of n/w.

Interconnection models will be needed to address new

architectures based on new parameters other than

traditional ones.

Issue ** There is need of allotment of additional spectrum to provide

quality services in NGN to match national and international standards.
Spectrum will be major source of wealth creation in coming

century.

In India service providers provide services mostly on wireless

(Voice, Mobile, Broadband and Data Services, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max,
HDTV, mobile TV or 3G services). Additional demand for spectrum

because of increase in customer demands.

Proper criteria for allotment should be adopted based on service

providers subscriber base, investment proportions, fixed assets
and revenues.
Allotment of spectrum to newcomers ?

Plan for open tendering, so that all can participate in spectrum

allocation which will support competition.

Issue ** Convergence in NGN leads to: Bundling of services

It becomes difficult for Regulator:
To define markets, assess market power.
More difficult to determine the extent to which prices
are cost oriented, allowing cross-subsidization between
services.
Customers may not want all the services: customer is
choosy.

To avoid above issues there is need to:

1. Maintain Competition in NGN.
2. Free entry to all operators at all levels of NGN.
3. By offering combine services package with minimum
price will benefit customers.

Issue ** Unique network for all services, separate functional layers.

Service operators at all levels with combined services. There may be
sharing of infrastructures among several operators so that charging is
critical issue.

Existing charging principles/ costing model on interconnection is on

the basis of network resources involved in passing the traffic
/delivery of service to end users.
All types of traffic in IP packets are delivered in different paths
in NGN there may be a need to review the existing costing and
charges methodology.
Planning for Call charging, routing of calls, Point of Intersection, at
different levels will be required.
Access emergency services are free of charge, from any telephone
as a welfare issue. This facility should be planned in the NGN
network.

Issue ** Migration to NGN involves very high costs:

Convergence of services (Voice, Data, and Internet),

Technological convergence (Wired-PSTN, Wireless-GSM,
CDMA, TDMA, Wi-Fi, Wi-MaX ) .

Higher costs are involved in migration process than operation will

be managed through Incentives.

Cost reduction with selection of suitable fiber network topology

(requirements and points of interconnection may differ which will
help in reducing infrastructure costs).

There should be balance of competition and investments at all

levels.

Issue ** NGN have different functional layers, levels, service

operators and converged Services.
One network multiple services, Mixed Technologies. Number of
Operators, Multi layers/levels in n/w, QoS is very important.
The standards of Quality of Services and Minimum Quality

parameters should be defined for all to ensure end-to-end

quality of service within networks.

Proper Quality management control systems and appropriate

measuring procedure should be there to analyze quality

requirements to ensure QoS.

This may be possible with monitoring QoS at all levels of

networks.

To have quality services & applications in NGN, need more

bandwidth, which could be managed with additional spectrum

allotment.

Issue ** How to guarantee security? Management of security issues in

NGN environment is critical one:
The Risk and threats in NGN may be due to external or internal
attack:
1. Transmission of viruses and malware.
2. Cyber visitors.
3. Un trusted equipments used in the network.
4. Duplication of data.
5. Unauthorized Access to system information.
6. Network becomes unavailable or unusable.
Due care will be taken to protect from internal and external attacks.
1. Needs appropriate levels of assurance from operators.
2. Manage security independently at respective levels of
architecture.
3. Strong binding of regulations for cyber owners.
4. Maximum punishment in case of violation of regulations.
4. Identity Management should be maintained throughout the
network

Regulatory Authority should plan for:

1.
2.

Increase the competition in networks and services through

incentives.
Minimize risks and uncertainty about NGN business
allowing sharing of infrastructure.

Also plan for:

1. Pricing -Flat pricing.
2. Number Portability-Not complex, smooth switching.
3. USO funding ( for PSTN Only, now for Broadband too )
4. Numbering- (Normal Way-County code + Local No.)
5. Addressing- Domain Name System (DNS) may be used
. to translate domain name to IP address for packet
. transmission widely used in IP world.
6. Traffic Management-Plan so that no congestion.
7. Protect Consumer Interests and welfare.

Unique Market structure.

Technological Development.

Infrastructure development.

Revenue growth, increase in Market share.

Increased Competition.

Improved overall customer experience.

Loss to Mobile operators : loose cash stream from fixed

operators.

Reduced Capital and Operational Expenditure.

NGN still in Nascent stage in India.

NGN will change traditional face of telecommunication sector in

India.

NGN incentives will attract both new entrants and existing

operators to invest.

NGN will be risky investment in present situation.

Uncertainty among competitors.

Most of investment will be done by Existing big players.

The NGN evolution will increase the competition.

Questions ?

Alandkar Satish D.
email: alandkarsatish@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9423035353