Fixed Mobile Convergence: Endless Possibilities

Convergence is a multi-dimensional solution. There are various
forms of convergence being implemented in India depending on the service
provider's needs and business requirements. In general, Indian operators are
still focused on meeting the high demand for basic voice but gradually opening
up to generating demand for converged service offerings.

Divisions between the markets of fixed-line and wireless
operators are founded on disparate technologies that have seen networks evolving
separately. It's a market structure that has existed for decades. And it's
one that is about to be dismantled as the telecom sector enters a new phase of
innovation. The fundamental change to the industry's composition is
articulated in a single word-convergence.

CAN INDIA BECOME A KEY MARKET?

The possibilities are endless. The FMC industry expects every major operator
in India to have commercial launches of some form of converged communication
within the next 12 months. The interest from operators is very high and they
have actively begun to implement the technology in phases. However, most
existing operators prefer to take a cautious approach in launching these
services so as to avoid cannibalization of existing revenues.

Like other forward-looking counterparts in Asia, India can lay
the groundwork by establishing the IP infrastructure and help its population
embrace broadband penetration. Broadband is indeed the catalyst for some of the
converged communications.

FMC majors have big plans for India. Some FMC companies' IMS-based
service provider-hosted seamless mobility solution can help fixed service
providers reach out to residential/small office/home office (SOHO) and
enterprise customers. Featuring open standards components with proven
interoperability, they provide a flexible IP media management and session
control platform that service providers can layer over their current network
infrastructure.

THE CONVERGENCE FACTOR

Convergence defines a process of assimilation. Once separate, delivery and
management systems can now be consolidated across a single cohesive platform.
This creates the opportunity for 'fixed mobile convergence' (FMC) whereby a
single device can support multiple applications across various access networks.
A number of trends underpin convergence. These include technical breakthroughs,
competitive pressures, application innovation, and end-user demand. Perhaps the
most important of these is the evolution of technology, as technology, which is
at the root of the different architectures for fixed-line and wireless markets,
is now creating the glue to bring them together. The adhesive is provided by
flexible, versatile IP protocols. Developed in the IT sector, IP provides tested
and robust open standards to connect core networks and service platforms. In the
form of the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), IP is the pivotal around which next
generation networks will evolve. At the cusp of this evolution will be
developers.

The focus of the development community's work is concerned
with devising new ways to deliver content, designing innovative services that
enhance person-to-person communication, and enhancing multimedia products like
mobile gaming and video streaming. Their work will greatly enhance the scope to
market versatile, rich and compelling services. End-user demand is also driving
the transition to IP. Customers are familiar with multi-function digital
products and now expect more from their communications devices. The potential of
advanced new services will help to attract consumer and business customers. In
addition, convergence will be a driver in itself; customers will recognize the
inherent convenience and service value of consolidating separate accounts with
one service provider and they'll expect economies for doing so too.

IP at the Heart

The key technology driving the blurring of service lines is the emergence of
IP-based networks. The IP backbone has provided a consolidation channel for
mobile and fixed operators to cost-effectively route their traffic, a process
that has provided the catalyst for operators to create core architectures that
share common traits to use IP not only for backhaul but to create, manage and
distribute services.

DRIVERS

Penetration of broadband is quickly reshaping the competitive landscape of
the communication industry. A person sitting in India could have a US phone
number over his/her broadband access. As traditional voice revenues are
threatened by new entrants, existing operators will need to find new ways to
retain customers and compete for their spending power. Convergence clearly
raises the bar for the competition.

EFFICIENT SYTEMS

Convergence is about creating a unified multimedia user experience where one
is willing to pay more, and cost efficiencies become a byproduct, while the
primary driver of convergence is value creation vis-à-vis top line growth and
not bottom-line reduction.

Converged communications rely heavily on high quality IP-based
transmission. Operators need to treat convergence holistically by considering
requirements of IP-transmission networks. Quality will be greatly enhanced with
high quality transmission.

IMS is being standardized in mobile networks through the 3GPP
standards body for mobile networks and for fixed-line companies by the TISPAN
initiative. This work will formalize the specifications for converged networks
for applications developers, service providers and vendors, and map the
evolution of 3G systems toward all IP networks.

ADHESION THROUGH IMS

2006 was the year of prominence for IMS. This can be attributed to the fact
that the industry realized that IMS is the key to supporting enhanced services
as well as providing an attractive transition from circuit-switched to IP-based
networks. Experts believe that the deployment of IMS will facilitate the
offering of differentiated services, as well as lead to a reduction in
application costs and increased revenues.

IMS takes advantage of the inherent flexibility and
interoperability of open Internet protocols to connect previously separate
systems. From a network perspective, IMS has two crucial advantages for
operators-versatility and cost-efficient service creativity.

Worldwide the industry is accepting IMS as the best solution and
are adapting to it. US telecom companies are adopting it hands on. RFPs were
seen last year from nearly every telecommunications company. On the cable side,
IMS is going into the mobile segment of triple play solutions.

A VERSATILE CORE

IMS integrates session management, mobility, and service quality on a single
unifying platform. The IMS matches the user's profile for the session with an
appropriate application server through one of a variety of open interfaces
including SIP and OSA/Parlay. The IMS then routes the call to the appropriate
handler through any access interface including all cellular networks 2G, 3G and
beyond: Wi-Fi based technologies and fixed and wireless broadband technologies (DSL,
cable, HSPDA, enhanced CDMA and WiMax). It's this ability to direct calls
through open, standards based protocols that provides a new level of
accessibility and flexibility in service design.

IMS (IP multimedia subsystem) is a standardized NGN architecture
that provides a powerful tool to support wireline and wireless service providers
who want to provide mobile and fixed multimedia services.

IMS uses open standard IP protocols and a VoIP implementation
based on a 3GPP-standardised implementation of SIP and runs on standard IP. It
gives the service providers more control on billing for the services and the
user more control on using the services anywhere in the world. Thus, it truly
merges the cellular and Internet worlds by using cellular technologies to
provide omnipresent access and the Internet to provide interesting services.

ADVANTAGE IMS

Through the IMS, access to network services can be secured through a
web-friendly interface, enabling third-party developers, service providers, and
even subscribers to self manage their service experience while the service
provider retains control over network resources. Subscribers can also control
when and how they communicate and services will automatically be optimized
depending on the customer's location. To support this seamless mobility
environment, FMC majors offer a full range of services that will provide
cost-effective planning, design, deployment complemented by rapid deployment and
robust security features.

• Access independence: IMS will eventually work with
  any network fixed, mobile or wireless because open interfaces between
  control and service layers allow elements and calls/sessions from different
  access networks to be mixed.

• Different Network Architectures: Operators and
  service providers can use different underlying network architectures through
  IMS.

• Terminal and user mobility: IMS and SIP enable the
  mobility of the user while the mobile network provides roaming ability.

• Extensive IP-based services: Any and all IP-based
  service including VoIP, videoconferencing multi player gaming etc can be
  easily provided through IMS.

OPERATOR CONCERNS

Quality of service (QoS), security and terminal availability are the key
operator concerns. Standards' bodies are aggressively working to address these
issues and related RFCs constantly released.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Presently, Session-Initiation-Protocol (SIP) and IMS are two pistons of the
convergence engine. VoIP of wireless (VoIP over WiMax) with the right QoS will
be some of the exciting developments to look forward to in the near future.

Femtocell technologies, which are under trials in the US and
Europe, may be a good option for India. However, the telecom regulator TRAI
should offer low power spectrum to run this cost effective technology. Femtocell
technology offers greater network efficiency, better in-building wireless
coverage and a more suitable platform for fixed mobile convergence services.
Femtocell APs are also known as 3G APs, and they are small cellular base
stations designed for use in residential or corporate environments. Femtocells
are small, low-cost base stations that can be used in residential or enterprises
where high-speed coverage would otherwise be limited. By enabling cost-effective
deployment they allow carriers to complete with voice-over-Wi-Fi.

CHALLENGES

Despite all the promise there are a number of challenges that mar the growth
on IMS. Ambiguities over IMS standards, interoperability etc makes it difficult
for the service providers to for the service provider to determine the long and
short term benefits and define a strategy for IMS.

Moreover, there are a number of security threats that looms
large on IMS networks. These are identity theft, DoS/DdoS attacks (Denial of
Service), viruses and malware, SPIT etc. Although IMS does satisfy a number of
security requirements such as subscriber authentication and authorization,
signaling encrypting and admission control but a lo needs to be worked out to
make it a completely secure solution.

Service providers that are able to adapt IMS will gain great
rewards. In-Stat estimates that subscribers to IMS-based services will jump from
10 mn this year (2007) to more than 500 mn in 2011.

There are expected to be a lot of investment in NGN equipment,
the research agency has pegged IMS control layer equipment purchases reaching
$12 bn by 2011.

Researchers predict that despite the continued usage of NGN
overlays by wire line operators during the next five years, the real promise for
IMS lies in mobile networks. Thus we can be assured that it's not IMS that
needs to be assessed any more but the services and the adaptations that the
industry has to carry out to usher in the Gen-Y of communication.

MAKING FMC A REALITY

Mobile operators have been championing the concept of IMS for some time but
now the fixed line operators are promoting it as the way to do FMC. Wire line
carriers are experiencing increased revenue threats and massive competition from
non-traditional broadband access operators and mobile operators. This has made
them shift to IP-based network architecture for voice, multimedia services and
content delivery. New revenue streams are being generated through aggressive
roll out of high speed broadband access there by opening avenues to provide a
plethora of services including IPTV, interactive content services etc.

IMS is the key to success of these services as it gives
operators better quality of service, efficient multimedia service delivery
system and a framework to integrate services across multiple access
technologies.

Telecom operators can provide services to users irrespective of
their location, access technology, and terminal. IMS guarantees inter-working
with existing phone systems, while providing an upgrade path for modern
multimedia sessions (like a videophone). Moreover it enables them to combine
characteristics of the traditional PSTN with services typically associated with
broadband making it an optima solution for wireline operators.

FMC and seamless mobility are the hottest topics in the telecom
industry with good reason. Particularly for fixed/broadband service providers,
FMC creates new opportunities to offer exciting and valuable mobility services
to subscribers while capitalizing fully on the value of existing assets.
Enterprise and residential customers are eager to extend their mobility beyond
the front door, to be able to reach and be reached by communication,
information, and entertainment anywhere they go. By providing them with enhanced
IP services and seamless mobility capabilities, Motorola helps forward-thinking
fixed service providers capture their imagination, revenue and their loyalty.
IMS and UMA based solutions are already happening worldwide. In India these new
technologies are currently in trial stages and deployments are expected to start
from early 2008.

Baburajan K

baburajank@cybermedia.co.in

(with inputs from Sonia Sharma)