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Fixed-mobile convergence held back by lack of gateway transparency says report…
According to a new study from Current Analysis the major roadblock in the path of operators delivering compelling and sophisticated fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) services is that carriers lack session management facilities capable of simultaneously overseeing the coordination of real-time traffic across the various access technologies, such as cellular2G/3G, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, DSL, cable, fibre and, eventually, femto/picocells, that ring the core of their networks. Authored by principal analyst for Carrier IP Telephony Joe McGarvey, the report - ‘Introducing the Fixed Mobile Convergence Gateway,’ – points out that all of the above access technologies differ in some manner (for example, encryption and authentication technologies) and currently require dedicated access gear to manage the sessions that flow over these connections.
“Until this issue is resolved and operators are able to manage IP sessions flowing into the network across any and all access technologies, compelling FMC applications and services will remain out of reach,” predicts McGarvey. “Betting that such a device will be attractive to operators in the near future, several vendors are shifting product development in this direction and the concept of a universal, multi-function gateway – more colloquially known as a convergence gateway – has begun to materialise.”
Current Analysis reckons that adding dedicated session management and security gear for each access network creates a counterproductive relationship between network flexibility and complexity. In other words, the closer service providers move toward accommodating the ‘anywhere, anytime’ expectations of subscribers by supporting multiple types of access networks, the more complex their networks grow.
Accordingly, the major supporting argument for convergence gateways is network consolidation and simplification. Instead of operators dedicating equipment to match each flavour of access technology, says Current Analysis, a convergence gateway would be able to oversee all traffic flowing into the network from the different types of access devices and conduits. And while there is little disagreement over the number and types of features that will be required to deliver compelling FMC services, significant differences exist among equipment makers and operators regarding the packaging of those functions. One thing that everyone does agree on, though, is to satisfy user expectations of having access to the same applications, regardless of where they may be or the type of device they may be using at any given time, will require millions of additional dollars in investment and more than a year of infrastructure evolution.
John Williamson
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