Electrical Engineering Solutions

The implementation of next generation networks is a complex and evolutionary task that needs to integrate new and legacy technologies, while at the same time phasing out the old systems, says Bradley Hemphill, managing director of Electrical Engineering Solutions (EES).

EES is involved in a number of next generation networking projects such as Cape Town International Airport, Nelson Mandela Multi-Purpose Stadium in Port Elizabeth and the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

Existing global communications are based on three separated networks – telephony that carries voice, wired and wireless video networks for television media and the data network.

“Because this international infrastructure is vast and represents a significant investment it cannot just be ripped out and placed with new generation networks on which voice, video and data are converged.

“What is happening is a phasing out of older technologies as there usefulness is overtaken by market-driven needs for the new technologies. Only green-field implementations can comprise converged communications components, but they still need to communicate with the outside world’s legacy systems.”

Hemphill says that sometimes the drive to new communication technologies and infrastructure is hampered by the multiple stakeholders’ difficulties in coming to grips with the complex issues that need to be resolved in the move to next generation networks.

“On paper it sounds fine. The new networks offer technically unrestricted access by users to different service providers and offer generalised mobility that provides users with consistent and ubiquitous access to varied services. 

“These services are independent from the underlying transport-related technologies such as multiple broadband and QoS-enabled transport technologies.

“This is exceptionally complex, even for network service providers who are starting with no legacy systems.  The complexities of trying to integrate existing infrastructures – essential to keep the organisation operational - with new technologies stretches the problem-solving capabilities of the smartest communication specialists.”

In integrating old and new technologies there are two main issues to consider:
•    Video and voice are traditionally circuit-switched, while data is packet-switched, and
•    Migration strategies to new technologies entails emulating legacy services over the new network while migration slowly happens in the background.

The advantages of next generation networks are numerous. Primarily, service-related functions are independent from the underlying transport technologies so improvements to either do not impact on each other and delivery of services.

There will also be the decoupling of service provision from the network and the provision of open interfaces – even to legacy networks.

When it comes to administration and maintenance there will be service building blocks on which a wide range of services, applications and mechanisms can be supported.  These include real-time, streaming, non-real time services and multi-media.

“Next generation networks promise consistency across the services that use them, streamlining their use and delivering a far more effective application offering and experience to the end users who are ultimately the customer,” concludes Hemphill.