1. ATIS Interoperability
Document No:
GSC17-PLEN-61
Source:
ATIS
Contact:
Andrew White,
GSC Session:
PLEN
Agenda Item:
6.7
ATIS Interoperability
Andrew White
Principal Consultant
Nokia Siemens Networks

2. Highlight of Current Activities
ATIS’ Packet Technologies and Systems Committee (PTSC)
Currently working to complete Phase 2 IP network-to-network interconnection (NNI) guidelines, including defining approaches for validating these guidelines.
Developed a technical report (ATIS ) that specifies the protocol profile, test suites and questionnaire for supporting Emergency Telecommunication Service (ETS) on IP-based NNIs.
Testing occurred in January 2013.
Results are being examined to determine if any modifications are necessary to ATIS deliverables.

3. Highlight of Current Activities
ATIS’ Cloud Services Forum (CSF)
Significant value was realized from interoperability and interconnection testing of unified visual communications in the cloud in 1Q 2013.
Although inter-provider interoperability testing has occurred in the past, this is the most comprehensive testing across an NNI between two providers to date.
Initial findings are key to accelerate and extend incremental system-to-system testing.
Opportunity to build on success of interworking of multiple providers/vendors by expanding participation.
Proven results lead to broader adoption of IP services and promotion of IP-based interconnections.
Plans are underway to expand on findings to standardize service interconnect.

4. Highlight of Current Activities
ATIS’ Next Generation Interconnection Interoperability Forum (NGIIF)
Led a major effort to find solutions to challenges rural consumers and businesses faced in receiving long distance calls.
Included participation from American rural telecommunications associations, rural carriers, major national service providers, state-level regulators, and the FCC.
Resulted in the publication of the ATIS Intercarrier Call Completion/Call Termination Handbook, which provides best practices for carriers to troubleshoot call termination issues.
ATIS currently participating in a joint national call completion task force to create a nationwide end-to-end test using pre-existing test tones.

5. Highlight of Current Activities
ATIS’ Device Solutions Activities
Open Real-Time Communications API (ORCA)
Open source project in support of WebRTC-enabled browsers
Software (javascript) was generated first; any needed standards work will follow
Other device-facing projects will follow
ATIS Device Solutions Initiative (DSI)
ORCA is the first project being launched under DSI
Comprised of companies that want to influence direction of ORCA and how networks will evolve in support of edge devices
Objective is enhanced value (increased service provider revenue) through new “network-enabled” services

6. Strategic Direction
ATIS will continue to promote interoperability via:
Developing technical standards, and programs to inform industry about these standards
Providing guidelines to facilitate interconnection
Conducting interoperability tests
Developing test suites
Work with members to ensure:
Device/Network interoperability (e.g., via ORCA)
Network/Network interoperability (e.g., via Content Delivery Network Interconnection)
Network/Service interoperability (e.g., via Telepresence, Text to 9-1-1, Commercial Mobile Alert System)

7. Strategic Direction
In parallel with its standards development activities, ATIS provides an open forum to facilitate discussion and resolution of the operational and interoperability issues necessary to effectively interconnect multiple service provider businesses.
ATIS and its members have played, and will continue to play, a prominent role in FCC Advisory Committees on the topics of interoperability and interconnection.
With the pace of change and the complexity of user needs and demands, ATIS will continue to actively evaluate how to best address interoperability, including:
Device Integrity
Cyber Security
Software Defined Networks

8. Challenges
Companies that are first to market often become “the standard.”
Consider Apple HTTP Live Streaming, which was developed outside of the typical standards process by a single company, and subsequently was distributed to the IETF for comments.
Standards processes, while promoting interoperability, should also foster innovation, competition and infrastructure development that address user needs on a timely and cost-effective basis.
The inclusion of options, ambiguities, etc., in standards make interoperability more difficult, but reflect the realities of consensus-development and the need for users to decide what features and capabilities meet their needs.
Compliance with technical standards does not guarantee interoperability.

9. Next Steps/Actions
ATIS is continuing to develop needed standards and solutions, but are using market-driven techniques to do so.
ATIS will continue to reach out to others to inform them regarding technologies, applications and their standards.
ATIS will continue to partner with other PSOs and the ITU on efforts that effectively promote interoperability, innovation, competition, and cost-effective infrastructure deployment to address market needs on a timely basis.

10. Proposed Resolution
ATIS supports the reaffirmation of the existing Resolution (GSC-16/28) at this time. 10

11. Supplemental Slides

12. Additional Current Activities
ATIS members continue to work with colleagues around the world to progress NGN interoperability through the development of interface and performance standards including in the ITU-T and 3GPP.
The focus is on specifications on topics such as:
Services
Architecture
Signaling
Quality of Service
Security
Network Management
Emergency Communications
Identity Management

13. Additional Current Activities
ATIS’ Next Generation Interconnection Interoperability Forum (NGIIF)
addresses next-generation network interconnection and interoperability issues associated with emerging technologies. Specifically, it develops operational procedures which involve the network aspects of architecture, disaster preparedness, installation, maintenance, management, reliability, routing, security, and testing between network operators.
addresses issues which impact the interconnection of existing and next generation networks and facilitate the transition to emerging technologies.

14. Additional Current Activities
ATIS’ PTSC IP Interconnection (IPI) Subcommittee
Similar to Circuit Switched networks, IP networks will interconnect using Network-to-Network Interfaces. In addition, IP networks will communicate with 3rd party Service Providers via either Application-to-Network Interfaces (ANIs) or Service-to-Network Interfaces (SNIs). The difference between ANI and SNI is that the SNI allows for the passage of media (e.g., content delivery, Interactive Voice Response (IVR)) in addition to signaling. In addition, there are User Network Interface (UNI) and other reference points in the ATIS architecture that will need to be validated.
The PTSC IPI will lead and coordinate with other committees where appropriate on the following tasks:
Define Standard Protocol Profiles for the NNI, ANI, SNI, UNI and other reference points.
Define Interconnection Guidelines.
Define Interoperability Test Suites.

15. Additional Current Activities
ATIS’ Cloud Services Forum (CSF)
Promotes the integration of cloud technologies and network infrastructure to realize the significant benefits of cloud, by:
Developing standards to enable the network to do more than it does today (e.g., expanding product offerings including services on demand, accelerating time-to-market, lowering costs, minimizing complexity, increasing scalability);
Focusing on the creation of reusable Service Enablers to progress each phase of work; and
Creating technical solutions in support of a global marketplace to help Service Providers realize cloud’s full potential.