Interoperability, why it is important Dr. Ghassem Koleyni FORUM ON NEXT GENERATION STANDARDIZATION (Colombo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April 2009) Colombo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April 2009

Content Business approach to products and standardization Open standards Interworking and interoperability What makes networks not to interoperate? Functional architectures and interfaces Concluding remark Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

Business approach to products and standardization Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April Standardization Problem analysis Requirement analysis architecture Implementation Pilot project Full product Deployment Business case study

Open standards (I) Open standards are developed and maintained in a transparent way through participation and collaboration of many organizations, vendors and operators. Open standards consider: User, business and technical requirements Multi-service, multi-network and multi- vendor environments Reuse or integration of existing open standards to the extent practicable Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

Open standards (II) Implementation based on open standards is a major component to support the market Having interoperable system makes sense and is a good marketing and business strategy Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April What is interoperability?

Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April Recognizing that interoperability of international telecommunication networks was the main reason to create ITU in the year 1865 (International Telegraph Union), and that this remains one of the main goals in the ITU strategic plan; ITU-T Resolution 76

Interworking and interoperability Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April Is interworking the same as interoperability? No Lets see why

Interworking (I) Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April The term ''interworking'' is used to express interactions between networks, between end systems, or between parts thereof, with the aim of providing a functional entity capable of supporting an end-to-end communication. The interactions required to provide a functional entity rely on functions and on the means to select these functions. Source: ITU-T Rec. Y.1411 Note: In ITU-T Rec. I.741 term Interconnection is used which when examined is the same as interworking

Interworking (II) Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April NetworkA Inter- working function NetworkBNetworkC

Interworking example Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April Interoperability The ability of two or more systems or applications to exchange information and to mutually use the information that has been exchanged. Source: ITU-T Rec. Y.101 NetworkANetworkB

Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

What makes networks un-interoperable? Lack of interoperability happens when two networks which are implemented based on the same standards (functionally equivalent) cant talk to each other; or When two networks (again functionally equivalent) which are to provide similar services are based on two different standards (e.g. one has been implemented based on a proprietary specification and another one based on a global standard Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

What is the solution? Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April Compliance to global standards Compliance to global standards But Does everyone comply? Does everyone comply? Simply no

NGN Generalized functional architecture Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April Source: ITU-T Rec. Q.3030

Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April 2009 Reference points in IPTV functional architecture Source: ITU-T Draft Rec. Q.IPTVSA

Functional architectures and interfaces Both NGN and IPTV functional architectures clearly identify open interfaces and specify signalling protocols which pass through them To be interoperable means all devices built based on the same standard have the same behaviour at the same reference point Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April ITU-T has produced Recommendations which provide signalling and control procedures for protocols passing through open interfaces

ITU and interoperability ITU-T resolution 76 indicates: ITU-T study groups develop the necessary conformance testing Recommendations for telecommunication equipment as soon as possible; ITU-T Recommendations to address interoperability testing shall be progressed as quickly as possible; and Assist developing countries in establishing regional or sub-regional conformity and interoperability centres suitable to perform conformity and interoperability testing as appropriate. Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

Interoperability, standards and conformance (I) Open standards are designed based on common agreement; however, they dont guarantee interoperability Verification, conformance and compliance testing should be an integral part of standardization process Regulatory bodies should encourage and make sure that deployed devices are interoperable Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

Interoperability, standards and conformance (II) Reference points and protocols going through them are the most important players for interoperability Test suites should be provided to verify conformance Certified organizations to perform conformance testing are needed Would be ideal to have these organizations in different regions Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

Conclusion In general, implementations based on global standards should be interoperable But this may not be true unless tested and certified by reputable organizations When procuring NGN or IPTV devices, care should be taken to assure interoperability i.e. products are implemented based on an open standard and backed up by certification from a reputable organization Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

Conclusion (II) ITU-T considers support of interoperable devices a major component of its activities ITU-T reuses open and global standards Increases chance of interoperability May reduce implementation cost Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April Procuring devices compliant to global standards will help ensure interoperability Procuring devices compliant to global standards will help ensure interoperability

List of Acronyms Colombo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April AALATM Adaptation Layer ATMAsynchronous Transfer Mode IWFInterworking Function IPTVInternet Protocol Television LSP Label Switched Path MPLS Multi-Protocol Label Switching NGNNext Generation Network QoSQuality of Service Rec.Recommendation RFIDRadio Frequency IDentification USN Ubiquitous Sensor Network VCVirtual Channel VPVirtual Path

Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April Thank you for your attention Dr. Ghassem Koleyni Tel:

BACKUP SLIDES Colmbo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April

ITU-T actions for support of interoperability Creation of one working party in SG 11 for test specifications Q.8/11: Protocol Test Specifications for NGN Q.9/11: Monitoring parameters for NGN protocols Q.10/11: Service test specification for NGN Q.11/11: QoS tests specification for NGN Q.12/11: USN and RFID test specification Colombo, Sri Lanka, 7-10 April