Convergence of Wired and Wireless networks

Convergence of Wired and Wireless networks.

The mobility and freedom the Wireless networks give the users is great. However, the philosophy of its great user advantage has been dampened by pushing it too far with un-viable product options  promising very high data speeds which are actually not at all required in a mobile situation.

384 - 586 Kbps data rate is more than enough to provide upto ‘real time video conferencing’. etc.  This data rate will also allow enough mobility in a vehicle moving within permissible speed. Data speed in Megabits is required only for quickly down loading movies etc., which is more appropriate in a fixed line multimedia terminal situation. Should someone need to watch movies while on mobile, these can be carried in convenient high data storage plug and play devices.  The difficulty multiplies in mobile set up as high volume data transaction is always only in the down link making the link utterly unbalanced and difficult to manage.  

The fact is that when approaching for realization of very high data rate solutions, the wireless portion of the net work will become smaller and smaller taking the over all  network configuration almost identical  to the land line network, the distinguishing factors will be only in the type of the end link and user terminal. When the service providers are strugling to make available reliable, stable and quality assured 16 kbps links even in urban areas, the fate of highly data intessnive multi-media business is anybody's guess.

The irony is, till late, the high business potentials of wired network were ignored.  Neither the Telecom Industries nor the ITU took serious effort or actions to develop the fixed network, may be because carried away or bogged down by the explosive growth of GSM and CDMA. There were not enough effort to merge telecom and IT technology in using the rich Telecom signaling protocol  CCITT CCS7 and features such as USSD, User to User Signaling etc. It is time, ICU come up with more powerful signaling in the CCS series such as  CCS 8, CCS 9 etc., more powerful interworking of Telecom digital systems directly with IP technology and IP networks. 

In the advent of GSM and CDMA, many thought that emergence of mobility will toll death bell of fixed network. However, with PON, EPON and other advanced high speed networking possibilities, fixed network is re-emerging.  With development of MPLS, combined with advance IP technology and Packaging of voice, data, video and multimedia services over single connectivity, there will be huge change in the whole philosophy of Multi media service application and product roll out on wired and wireless networks. IP phone, IP TV and emerggence of common devices that can work as phone, TV and PC with Internet  will become killer products.  To counter this, well organized fixed network providers can provide higher quality, better security and cost effective product and services over OFC back bone and WiFi / PON end links.  It is necessary to work towards convergance of wired and wireless systems. networks and terminal devices. It is in this context I have suggested to bring in roaming feature in Fixed network also, by introducing HLR / VLR concept into it and SIM loaded in new avatar of multi pupose phones for fixed and limited mobility.   

Then why the Mobile industry was messing around for years promising very high data rates in mobile products and applications that could never be realized?  Was it not just  handiwork of the some sales guys with half baked product ideas, putting the cart before horse as usual, but gone little too far in this case. The fact is that many companies are still struggling to provide a good quality 16kbps mobile end link all over the service area.  

Now everyone is clamouring about wireless spectrum for 3G roll out. 3G on wireless media has many limitations. Please read my posting of 'Limitations of 3G" in this space.

What is really needed for Multi-media Mobile product roll out is to have extensive OFCable network across the country as backbone and wireless network at the end link stage.

I had been pointing out these for many years, though only few seem to be interested. Nevertheless, I continue to hold on to my views that major distinguishing factors between Wired and Wireless communication philosophies will have to vanish  sooner than later and a common platform will evolve and take care of the multi-media communication needs of both full mobility and limited mobility users with appropriate terminals and bearers. These systems, networks and terminals will provide requisite data rates, adequate to its needs and will be of high quality, fail proof with built in redundancy, more secure and over and above, affordable to the bulk of common man who really bring business volume to the industry. Then only the telecom industry will find the multi-media business viable.

Abraham Paul   MD FCOMNET

Ex: V.P. Technical Sales, Siemens SPCNL India, / G.M. and SMT TBG, BPL Mobile Networks India, / TES DoT India.)