WHAT'S NGN? Next Generation Networking (NGN) is a broad term for a certain kind of emerging computer network architectures and technologies. It generally describes networks that natively encompass data and voice (PSTN) transmissions, as well as (optionally) additional media such as video. The public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the concatenation of the worlds public circuit-switched telephone networks, in much the same way that the Internet is the concatenation of the worlds public IP-based packet-switched networks. ...

Current NGN implementations are based on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). MPLS is a common abbreviation for Multiprotocol Label Switching. ...

The general idea behind NGN is that all information is transmitted via packets; packets are labelled according to their type (data, voice, etc) and handled differently by the traffic management equipment.

Next Generation Networks are based on the Internet Protocol. At the application level Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) seems to be taking over H.323. Internet protocol may refer to: The Internet_Protocol, a data-oriented protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched internetwork. ... Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a protocol developed by the IETF MMUSIC Working Group and proposed standard for initiating, modifying, and terminating an interactive user session that involves multimedia elements such as video, voice, instant messaging, online games, and virtual reality. ... H.323 is an umbrella recommendation from the ITU-T, that defines the protocols to provide audio-visual communication sessions on any packet network. ...

By ITU-T the definition is: A Next Generation Network (NGN) is a packet-based network able to provide services including Telecommunication Services and able to make use of multiple broadband, QoS-enabled transport technologies and in which service-related functions are independent from underlying transport-related technologies. It offers unrestricted access by users to different service providers. It supports generalized mobility which will allow consistent and ubiquitous provision of services to users. [[1]]

NGN's architecture is based on decoupling transport and service layers. Basically, that means that whenever a provider wants to enable a new service, they can do it straight upon defining it at the service layer without considering the transport layer, i.e. services are transparent to transport.

One of the most important devices in this kind of networks is a Softswitch - a programmable device, which controls calls. It enables correct integration of different protocols within NGN. The most important function of the Softswitch is creating the interface to PSTN through Signalling Gateways (SG) and Media Gateways (MG). However the Softswitch term is defined as different devices by different companies. In the context of a telephone system, a switch is the device which connects calls from one phone line to another. ... In the context of a telephone system, a switch is the device which connects calls from one phone line to another. ... The public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the concatenation of the worlds public circuit-switched telephone networks, in much the same way that the Internet is the concatenation of the worlds public IP-based packet-switched networks. ... In the context of a telephone system, a switch is the device which connects calls from one phone line to another. ...

One may quite often find the term Gatekeeper when searching for NGN. It was originally a VoIP device, which converted (using gateways) voice and data from their analog form (PSTN, SS7) to the packet-based one (IP). It controlled one or more gateways. As soon as this kind of devices started using the MGCP, the name was changed to Media Gateway Controller (MGC). An H.323 Gatekeeper is an entitiy that manages a H.323 zone, providing address information/translation and other services to the terminals within the zone, and for Gatekeepers managing other zones. ... IP Telephony, also called Internet telephony, is the technology that makes it possible to have a telephone conversation over the Internet or a dedicated Internet Protocol (IP) network instead of dedicated voice transmission lines. ... The public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the concatenation of the worlds public circuit-switched telephone networks, in much the same way that the Internet is the concatenation of the worlds public IP-based packet-switched networks. ... Signalling System #7 is a set of protocols defined by ITU-T, specifically in the Q.7* set of documents, used to set up telephone calls. ... Internet protocol may refer to: The Internet_Protocol, a data-oriented protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched internetwork. ... In computing, Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) is a protocol used within a Voice over IP system. ... A Media Gateway Controller (MGC) is a system used in certain Voice over IP telephony architectures. ...

A Call Agent is a general name for devices/systems controlling calls.

External links

• Alcatel Next Generation IP Networking solutions
• Technology White Paper: Alcatel Vision for Secured Next Generation Networks
• Cybertelecom Next Generation Networks