Partnership between telecom service providers and their equipment vendors in NGN

This paper explores the partnership relationship between the telecom service providers and their equipment vendors in the deployment of NGN and the implications for standardization. First, as a "seedbed" and essential background of NGN, we introduce convergence along the value chain. Secondly, we explain the determinants behind the partnership relationship. Thirdly, we observe how telecom service providers and their equipment vendors cooperate with each other as partners in the roadmap communication, architecture and network design and solution testing of NGN. Fourthly, we explore the increasing need for the service providers and their equipment vendors to build a strong partnership in standardization and we believe that their partnership will be continuously based on open standards in the development of NGN.