Security mechanisms in converged networks

Convergence of fixed and wireless networks has been talked about for a number of years. It is now a real prospect with standards being developed by both 3GPP and ETSI-TISPAN in the development of the NGN. One of the standardisation goals of the NGN is to combine the best of both fixed and mobile technologies into a single (homoegeneous) secure network. The next generation network will inevitably offer challenges to security designers and it is the role of this paper to show that using the lessons and mechanisms that have been honed over the years in cellular environments it is possible to provide a secure NGN irrespective of the access network technology and of the terminal technology.