This book focuses largely on enabling technologies for network convergence. A principal aim is to show where parallel functions exist in fixed and mobile voice network architectures and to explain how these functions will be combined. The authors describe the components of a future converged architecture and consider the following key aspects: QoS Requirements, Proposed Solution Architectures, Protocol and Interface options, Underlying Network Issues and Security issues. The book also compares and describes initiatives from several standards bodies working to simplify to a clean architecture and a common set of protocols. The impact on a Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, the preferred method of transport for the core network, will be considered in detail.

About the Author

Dr. Juliet Bates is a Principal Consultant within the Professional Services Division of Alcatel Networks, providing design advice on the engineering and traffic management of Broadband Networks. Juliet's specialist areas include fixed and mobile voice access for transmission over ATM, IP and MPLS.

Juliet has been MSF Technical Committee Vice Chair since April 2004.Chris Gallon is a Senior Network Architect at Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe, working in areas including end-to-end network design for triple play services, UK PSTN interconnect protocols, DSL and Fibre Access Solutions, PSTN evolution and Bandwidth Management. He has been MSF Protocol and Control Working Group Chair since February 2002.

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