Question 9/2 - Traffic engineering for networks supporting IP services

Traffic engineering methods are essential for design, planning and operation of networks. They include:

With evolving technologies, new emerging services and the deregulated and competitive environment, there is a need of new traffic engineering methods for transport networks supporting IP services.

In addition, ITU-D SG 2 has requested to ITU-T WP 3/2 its cooperation to prepare a Handbook on Teletraffic Engineering which would make it easier to understand by less experienced engineers in the field the traffic engineering concepts and in particular the ITU-T Recommendations on traffic engineering for networks, specially for advanced networks.

a) arising from the fast growth of IP-based networks and the need for guidelines for network operation;

b) related to the need of providing different QoS to different services and users;

c) resulting from the integration of networks with different technologies and providing different services;

d) from the continuous emerging of new multimedia and/or IP services such as IP telephony;

f) due to the greater use of satellites and the introduction of new generation systems;

g) due to major changes in access network technologies (such as cable modem, digital subscriber line, and wireless local loop) for incorporating new services such as Internet access;

h) from the new competitive environment and the need of fair rules for the interconnection between competitors;

i) associated with the need for effective interworking to provide a wide range of services across network boundaries;

j) the need of tutorial material which would make easier to apply by less experienced engineers the ITU-T Recommendations on traffic engineering for networks, specially those supporting IP services.

1) What new or revised Recommendations are required describing traffic engineering methods for the design, planning and operation of transport networks?

2) What existing Recommendations on traffic engineering methods for transport networks need revising or deleting because they are no longer useful?

3) What tutorial material on ITU-T Recommendations on traffic engineering for traditional and advanced networks is required for assisting ITU-D in the preparation of a Handbook on Teletraffic Engineering?

New and revised Recommendations describing traffic engineering methods for networks supporting IP services will be produced. In parallel, tutorial material on the ITU-T Recommendations on traffic engineering for networks will be provided to assist ITU-D in the preparation of a Handbook on Teletraffic Engineering.

A project management approach, in which each project has firm objectives and limited lifetime, will be followed. For the Handbook related work an ad hoc group, which integrates the corresponding projects of Questions 7/2, 8/2 and 9/2, will be organized. A detailed workplan will be maintained and new projects will be created according to needs. Initial projects and target dates are given below.

Project number	Topic and rationale	Target completion date
1	Revision of Recommendation E.IPaccess: Reference connections for traffic engineering of IP access networks Update of this Recommendation for accounting progress in the standardization of IP access networks.	2003
2	New Recommendation E.hfc: Traffic engineering methods for IP access networks based on hybrid fibre-coaxial System Grade of Service parameters, user demand models, traffic models, measurements, control and dimensioning methods for the planning, operation and management of HFC-based IP access networks so that Quality of Service objectives to customers may be met.	2001
3	New Recommendation E.DSL: Traffic engineering methods for IP access networks based on Digital Subscriber Line System As in Project 2, but applied to DSL-based IP access networks.	2002
4	New Recommendation E.WLL: Traffic engineering methods for IP access networks based on Wireless Local Loop As in Project 2, but applied to WLL-based IP access networks.	2003
5	Revision of Recommendation E.492: Traffic reference period Revision of the concept of traffic reference period used for dimensioning to accommodate it to the characteristics of the new emerging services.	2002
6	New Recommendation E.VOIP: Traffic engineering methods for transporting voice over IP As in Project 2, but applied to core networks transporting voice over IP.	2002
7	First issue of Recommendation E.MIP: Measurement requirements for IP-based networks First measurement requirements in IP-based networks for the purposes of traffic characterization, performance monitoring and support of traffic controls.	2002
8	Second issue of Recommendation E.MIP: Measurement requirements for IP-based networks More elaborated measurement requirements in IP-based networks for the same purposes as in Project 7.	2004
9	First issue of Recommendation E.CDIP: Traffic control and dimensioning for IP-based networks First traffic controls and dimensioning methods for the planning, operation and management of IP-based core networks so that Quality of Service objectives to customers may be met.	2002
10	Second issue of Recommendation E.CDIP: Traffic control and dimensioning for IP-based networks More elaborated traffic controls and dimensioning methods for IP-based core networks with the same purposes as in Project 9.	2004
11	New Recommendation E.IC: Traffic engineering considerations for interconnection between operators Traffic engineering aspects to be considered in the interconnection between operators for assuring fairness of the interconnection contract as well as accomplishment of the end-to-end performance objectives.	2002
12	Tutorial material for the basic handbook	2001
13	Advanced tutorial material for extensions of the handbook	2004

A close liaison is required with the other two Questions of WP 3/2 (Questions 7/2 and 9/2) as well as with other Questions of Study Group 2 having activities closely related to traffic engineering, in particular those on routing (Question 2/2), Quality of Service (Question 5/2) and Network Traffic Management (Question 6/2).