ITU‑T SG11 Q4 has developed a series of data models, signalling requirements and protocols related Recommendations on control, management and orchestration of bearer network resources. It is expected that the standardization on the above aspect continues, including but not limited to Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV), cloud computing networking, network slicing, IMT-2020 network and beyond, network virtualization, IPv6 transition, future networks (FN), and expands to new ITU-T study area, such as Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and big data driven networking, Distributed Ledger Technology, distributed cloud, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), computing power networking, and other emerging IT supporting bearer network technologies.

The behaviour of the traffic which is generated by more and more new services, such as the service enabled by SDN, NFV, cloud computing networking, and other emerging IT supporting bearer network technologies, is very different from the traffic generated by the traditional NGN services. Accordingly, the architecture to control such new traffic may become more complicated. Bearer network signalling requirements are closely related to network resource control mechanisms and protocols.

Recommendations in force for which the Question is responsible: Q.1970, Q.1990, Q.2630, Q.2761-2764, Q.2920, Q.2931 and Q.2932.1, Q.3150/Y.1416, Q.3151/Y.1417, Q.3300, Q.3301.1, Q.3302.1, Q.3303.0, Q.3303.1, Q.3303.2, Q.3303.3, Q.3304.1, Q.3304.2, Q.Suppl.51, Q.Suppl.67, Q.3316, Q.3405, Q.3716, Q.3718, Q.3740, Q.3741.