On the Design of Next Generation Network Architecture for a Developing Economy

摘要

The design of network architecture is an essential step in the design of Next Generation Networks, leading to the prediction of the actual equipment quantities and dimensioning of the network. The network architecture is commonly drawn out as a diagram for visual representation of the overall network. This paper focuses on the design of the architectural model for a softswitch IP based backbone network for Benue State, Nigeria, as a case study of developing economies. It has been found that, in developing countries, the migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network to Next Generation Network takes the form of a major telecommunications development scheme meant for the extension of telecommunications infrastructure and services to new deserved areas and/or the modernization of the predominantly obsolete and substandard existing telecommunications infrastructure. So, the basic network planning principles have been followed to design the architecture in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. The key design methodology is based on intuitive demand forecasting, a snapshot of the existing network infrastructure and systematic assessment of the Public Switched Telephone Network-to-Next Generation Network migration principles. It was furthermore guided by use of the ITU-T's generic reference models enabling the proper combinations of the functional entities. The resulting Next Generation Network backbone architecture is made up of 2 Softswitches, 23 Universal Media Gateways and an MPLS/IP core. The further optimization of the architecture, which is normally achieved with dimensioning of the network, is beyond the scope of this work.