Future Networks

The evolution of telecommunications has seen many changes over the years. We are always looking toward the “next generation” which promises more capabilities at less cost. The fact is that future networks deliver on this promise.

In the transition from analog to digital switching and transmission, we saw a tremendous increase in quality since digital signals can be regenerated error-free and therefore do not suffer from noise and degradation the way analog transmission does. Similarly, the change from copper to fibre reduced costs and extended the benefits of digital transmission to much greater distances. The emergence of wireless networks freed the end user from being tethered (“hard-wired”) into the network and, although the radio access has some limitations, the value of the freedom associated with mobility far outweighs these limitations for the vast majority of end users. The radio technologies themselves continue to advance, delivering improved performance, coverage, data rates and interference resistance. The current core network infrastructure changeover from circuit switching to packet switching offers many advantages to the network operator through the flexibility and efficiency inherent in this approach to moving information.

For more information, click on:

- ITU-T SG 13 Future Networks

ITU-T has in place a number of future network oriented activities whose scope and scale go beyond what can be covered within a single study group. These have been grouped together in the form of Global Standards Initiatives of GSIs. A GSI also provides essential external visibility of the ITU-T's work, and a clear and obvious place to go to for information on the ITU-T's work in the area. A GSI serves as a banner to unify all the activities within the ITU-T. The following GSIs are currently in place:

- Next Generation Networks GSI

- Identity Management GSI

- IPTV GSI

There are in addition a number of Joint Coordination Activities (JCAs.) Some of these are directly related to the GSIs and others are for inter study group or inter-standards body coordination. The list of JCAs currently active can be found here. For further information on the formation and management of JCAs and GSIs, the reader is referred to  ITU-T Recommendation A.1 “Work methods for study groups of the ... ITU-T,” clause 2.2.