TRAI's regulatory suggestions on Next Gen Networks soon

NEW DELHI: Telecom regulator TRAI will soon come out with recommendations to address issues like numbering plan, interconnection and common exchange to facilitate the migration of mobile operators to Next Generation Networks.

At a meeting recently in Department of Telecom to discuss the progress of National Focus Group on NGN (NFG-NGN), service providers expressed the need to review regulatory requirements in view of migration to NGN. Issues like long-distance and local level numbering plan, location of mobile switches at circle level and a common exchange were also discussed.

A TRAI representative informed the meeting that the regulatory recommendations addressing these issues would be released shortly, official sources said.

All operators would have to shift to NGN networks in near future. NGN is a single network of services and infrastructure functioning over an Internet Protocol network. This digital mode is superior to the existing network as it saves cost and improves voice, data and video delivery system.
   
At present, service providers are implementing NGN in a partial way and are facing interconnect issues on billing, numbering plan and migration. The Focus Group is aimed at providing a platform to address such issues urgently.

Mobile operators will now inform DoT the problems they are facing on inter-operator issues and a pilot NGN network consisting of the equipment will be deployed by operators soon.