Fixed Mobile Convergence

1
Fixed Mobile Convergence

• T-109.7510 Research Seminar on
  Telecommunications Business
• Johanna Heinonen

2
Outline

• Introduction
• FMC overview
• Standards
• FMC network architecture
• End user services
• Influence to operator Business models
• Vendor strategies
• FMC challenges
• Conclusion

3
Introduction

• Fixed operators
• Many fixed phones replaced with mobile phones
• Mobile operators
• Lacking of high bandwidth
• Hybrid operators
• Expensive to maintain two separate networks
• Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs)
• Need to offer their services via different kinds
  of access networks

gt New strategies needed, FMC is one possibility
4
Introduction

• FMC gives possibilities to different types of
  operators
• Fixed operators
• Possible to enhance their coverage area towards
  mobile access (WLAN, UMA)
• Mobile operators
• Possible to enhance their coverage area (e.g.
  UMA)
• Hybrid operators
• Can reduce costs by optimizing their networks
• Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs)
• Possible to utilize both fixed and mobile
  operators networks

5
Fixed Mobile Convergence

• FMC concept is not new
• FMC target
• Separate wireless and wireline networks will
  merge to one several access technologies
  available to access the network
• IMS architecture and SIP protocol are the main
  building blocks
• IMS handles SIP sessions between the terminals

To have all services seamlessly available from
any network and with any terminal device
6
Standards

• 3GPP
• IP Multimedia subsystem (IMS)
• IMS core in release 5
• Additions in release 6 (e.g. CS-IMS interworking,
  UMA)
• Standardization continues in release 7
• IETF
• SIP protocol
• ETSI TISPAN
• Fixed telephony network standardization
• Specifies IP and SIP based NGN architecture based
  on 3GPP IMS release 6
• OMA
• SIP based services
• Push-to-talk, presence

7
FMC Network Architecture
8
End User Services

• FMCA Fixed mobile convergence association has
  listed convergence service scenarios
• Converged contacts personal contact and address
  book in the network-based storage which is
  accessible from anywhere
• Personal multimedia - secure access to the users
  multimedia content that is stored in home or in
  the network from any device
• Multimedia call with data sharing service
  possible to for the user to switch between voice
  only GSM call and multimedia call containing e.g.
  picture or broadband-enabled TV
• Combinatorial services - based on availability of
  multiple connections (circuit and data) during
  the same communication session
• Electronic Programme Guide service is listing
  available programmes that can be watched on the
  mobile device or recorded on video recorder
• Automation control and monitoring service makes
  it possible to control various home based tasks
  via the mobile device such as temperature and
  access
• Convergent call control provides the ability to
  automatically handle the call based on some
  events. For example based on the information of
  the users electronic calendar, the location of
  the user and the importance of the caller the
  call will be connected to the user or to the
  voice mail
• Multimodal services include several scenarios
  where voice and data sessions are mixed

9
Influence to Operator Business Models

• FMC offers two main benefits to the operators
• Interoperability
• reduction of the costs because common resources
  can be used
• FMC introduced step-by-step
• Operators want to exploit their existing
  investments
• Interworking with existing networks is important
• FMC solutions must be adjusted to each operator
• Investment plans of Finnish operators (Ficora)
• the amount of investments is going to increase
  because of the equipment needed for convergence
  and next generation networks
• operators believe that they will get remarkable
  cost savings by using IP based techniques
• Also they believe that convergence will bring new
  services for end users

10
Influence to Operator Business Models

• FMC is a continuously changing and complex
  environment which creates uncertainties at
  technology, demand and strategy levels
• The technological uncertainties are caused by
  rapid technological development and the
  developing standards
• What are the services that the users are willing
  to pay will be seen in the future. This is
  causing uncertainty in demand level
• A clear framework is needed to prevent the
  operators to do costly mistakes by entering and
  subsequently exiting non-core businesses and
  markets

11
Vendor Strategies

• Operators want to reuse their existing networks
• gt This has to be taken into account by vendors
• Many vendors have different kinds of evolution
  paths and step-by-step network introduction to
  the FMC and all IP networks
• Most of the vendors have taken an active role in
  many standardization bodies
• gt standardization is a key issue if vendors want
  to provide solutions that can be integrated to
  the equipment of other vendors

12
FMC Challenges

• Number plans and number portability
• Fixed and mobile numbers come from separate
  blocks and they have prefixes that contain
  information for interconnection charging
• Currently there is separate fixed number
  portability and mobile number portability
  available but not fixed/mobile number portability
  
• Directory services
• Fixed operators provide directory service to
  their customers. This catalogue contains
  information on all fixed line customers
• Currently mobile operators do not offer this kind
  of service and mobile numbers are considered as
  personal data
• Handset availability
• Always a problem in the early stages of any
  telecommunications technology
• Role of regulators
• not a task of regulators to decide the rules for
  FMC. Regulators should only set up the
  environment so that the market forces can guide
  direction, extent and pace of FMC
• Since the definitions of information, data and
  entertainment has changed the rules related to
  network and service providers should change
  accordingly

13
Conclusion

• FMC gives lots of possibilities but on the other
  hand it means also new investments to operators
• Very complex networks
• Common standards have a great importance
• How much the end users are willing to pay for the
  services?
• Should VoIP services should be free of charge?
  (Skype)