Faster switch to next-gen system

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today set in motion the process of permitting operators to migrate to next generation networks (NGN) by recommending that telecom companies be encouraged to provide different types of telecom services on a single network.

Presently, various types of telecom services are provided through separate networks. The regulator said N3GNs, if implemented, would enable fixed-mobile convergence and substitution, which would lead to a reduced demand on mobile services spectrum.

Issuing its recommendations on NGN, Trai also asked the government to act quickly on its earlier recommendations on unified licensing given in January 2005, to make NGN a reality.

"Due to technological advancements there is a trend towards unification of networks and services leading to the emergence of next generation networks, which are predominantly IP-based. The NGNs enable service providers to provide a wide range of services "" voice, data, video "" over the same platform," it said.

According to Trai, increase in broadband penetration is a must for wider deployment of NGN services.

Since the policy targets for broadband had not been met, it was time to undertake the review of various recommendations on broadband access-related issues, Trai said.

The telecom regulator added that unless various operators were able to deploy NGN to provide multiple services, its full benefits could not be made available to customers.

In addition, Trai will have detailed consultation with stakeholders on interconnection issues and quality of service regulation for NGN.

Trai has also decided to set up a committee named 'NGN eCO' comprising experts from DoT, Telcom Engineering Centre, C-DOT, service providers, vendors and academicia to deliberate upon various migration and interconnection issues.

The telecom regulator has suggested that government should organise interactive sessions through its agencies to spread awareness on NGN.

The Technical Engineering Centre should be entrusted to analyse international developments pertaining to NGN to incorporate them in Indian context.