ITU Creates IP-Based Framework for Multimedia Networks

The ITU has developed a broad suite of recommendations for cable networks
which could serve as the basis for a global communication system using the
language of the Internet. The initiative, known as IPCablecom, will help cable
operators and vendors meet the consumer demand for multimedia services such as
interactive games, electronic commerce and streaming media applications such as
voice and video conferencing.

The emergence of the IP as the standard transport mechanism for data networks
has enabled a revolution in multimedia services and applications. "IPCablecom
furthers that revolution by enabling a new array of global services at a time
when the Internet is increasingly important for economic and social
prosperity," says Dr. Richard R. Green, chairman of ITU-T Study Group 9. In
order for Internet service providers to economically and efficiently meet the
demand for multimedia data, a broadband network is required. The broadband
capacity of modern hybrid (fiber/coax) cable networks that are widely available
in homes and businesses makes cable a very attractive solution. "This work
serves as an excellent example of how industry and the ITU can work together to
anticipate and meet market demand," adds Green. Also notable is the breadth
of the recommendations and the fact that agreement was reached in just over a
year. The 17 recommendations meet specifications defined by cable operators and
vendors in North America, Europe, and Asia and detail the interconnection
requirements required to ease product implementation and deployment. These
fundamental requirements range from quality of service to security interfaces.

About IPCablecom

The IPCablecom initiative is directed toward defining a totally new digital
broadband multimedia system architecture that overlays a high-speed two-way
hybrid (fiber/coax) cable modem access network. The objective is to enable a
wide variety of IP-based real-time multimedia services, such as Voice over IP,
unified messaging, PBX extension, videoconferencing, online gaming and many
other general multimedia applications.

IPCablecom builds upon the digital cable modem architecture DOCSIS (Data Over
Cable Service Interface Specification) specified in ITU-T Rec. J.112 recently
developed by ITU-T Study Group 9 for global use. IPCablecom is a robust
architecture which supports many end-to-end functions, including signaling for
services, media transport at variable levels of Quality of Service, PSTN
interfacing, security, provisioning of the client devices, billing and
settlements and other network management functions. Eventually IPCablecom
service providers may interconnect their networks to form a national or even
international footprint. Leading cable operators recognize that as the IP-based
cable footprint expands globally, it is critical to have IPecom standards to
connect to cable networks worldwide. IPCablecom allows cable operators and
suppliers to provide similar time-critical products and services using the IP
protocol.

Link: www.itu.int