Evolving existing narrowband networks towards broadband networks with IN capabilities

This paper provides an overview of various initiatives in the signaling, network control, and management domains. Harmonized functional architecture as defined by the International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) develops the integrated architecture concepts by considering the relationship of future architectures with the existing platforms; IN, common channel signaling and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) signaling. The author discusses the use of IN technology in the existing narrowband network and how the IN technology can seamlessly integrate the wireline telephone services with wireless services. The application of the IN technology to ATM broadband networks is discussed and some discussion on the architectures that can be used to support the new and emerging broadband services is given. An integrated view of the narrowband/broadband network with IN technology that can be used to support new broadband services is then presented together with level issues and challenges that would emerge when the IN technology is used to seamlessly integrate the narrowband networks with broadband networks