On Fixed-Mobile Network Convergence

As the convergence in digital industry takes shape, the digital networks, both wireline and wireless, are also converging to offer seamless services and enhanced experience to the user. With the arrival of the mobile Internet the mobility is also moving into new areas, e.g., imaging, games, video, multimedia, and across different types of networks. In this paper we explore why, what, and how of the network convergence, and identify how the industry viewpoints align and differ. We also identify the key barriers to achieving true network convergence. We then discuss the role of the Internet Protocol (IP) as the common thread that enables network convergence, and the key industry and standards initiatives to actually provide solutions and the equipment to implement a cost-efficient and high performance converged network. Sudhir Dixit joined Nokia Research Center in 1996, where he is currently a Research Fellow and works on next generation wireless networks. From 1996 to 2003 he was a Senior Research Manager, focusing on IP/ATM, wireless, content networks, and optical networks. Prior to that he worked at NYNEX Science & Technology (now Verizon), GTE (now Verizon), Codex Motorola, Wang, Harris, and STL (now Nortel Europe Labs). He has published or presented over 150 papers, published three books, and holds 14 patents. He is on the Editorial Board of the IEEE Communications Magazine, Springer's Wireless Personal Communications Journal, and KIC's Journal of Communications and Networks. He received a B.E. degree from MANIT, Bhopal, India, an M.E. degree from BITS, Pilani, India, a Ph.D. degree from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, and an M.B.A. degree from Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne. He is a Fellow of IEE (UK) and IETE (India). He represents Nokia on the Steering Board of the Wireless World Research Forum, and is also Chair of the SIG on Self-Organization of Wireless World Systems.