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The evolution of
telecommunications has seen many changes over the years.
We
are always looking toward the �next generation� which promises more
capabilities at less cost.
Future networks deliver on this promise.
The telecoms world is
one of
TRANSITIONS. The
transition from
analog to digital switching and transmission provided a tremendous
increase in quality since digital transmissions can be regenerated error-free
and therefore do not suffer from noise and degradation the way analog
transmission does. Similarly, the
transition from
copper to fibre reduced costs and extended the benefits of digital
transmission to much greater distances. The
transition to
wireless
networks
freed the end user from being tethered (�hard-wired�) into the network
and, although the radio access has some limitations, the value of the
freedom associated with mobility far outweighs these limitations for the
vast majority of end users. The radio technologies themselves continue
to advance, delivering improved performance, coverage, data rates and
interference resistance. The current core network infrastructure
transition from
circuit switching to packet switching offers many advantages to the
network operator through the flexibility and efficiency inherent in this
approach to moving information.
ITU-T has several
future network oriented activities whose scope and scale go beyond what
can be covered in a single study group. These activities are grouped in
the form of
Global Standards Initiatives
or GSIs which provide essential external visibility of the ITU-T's work,
and a clear and obvious place to go to for information on ITU-T's work
in the area. For more information, click on
Next Generation Networks.
ITU-T also has a number
of
Joint Coordination Activities
(JCAs), some directly related to the GSIs and
others for inter study group or inter-standards body coordination. For a
list of JCAs and links for more information, go to
Coordination Activities.
When ITU wants to move
a topic forward quickly and involve other organizations in doing so,
Focus Groups are
a useful means to do this. For more information, click on
Focus Groups.
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