Fremont, California, United States
The MSF (MultiService Forum) released today their R3 "NGN Guidelines" based on the MSF Implementation Agreements (IAs) validated in last October's highly successful GMI 2006. Representing a distillation of the technical specifications provided by the MSF IAs, within the structure of the MSF R3 Architecture, the Guidelines provide a coherent framework for the practical implementation of large scale Next Generation Networks. The Guidelines are now freely available for downloading from the MSF website http://www.msforum.org/ with an invitation to companies to publicly declare their compliance with the MSF approach to making an open, standards-based NGN architecture work in practice. Acme Packet, Alcatel-Lucent, Fujitsu, MetaSwitch, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel and ZTE have already pledged their support.
"This is a great opportunity for vendors of key NGN elements to demonstrate their commitment to open standards by publicly affirming their implementation of the open architecture specified by the MSF, and demanded by major carriers," commented Roger Ward, Office of the CTO, BT Group and President of the MSF. "The MSF R3 Guidelines are virtually a carrier's RFP construction kit for 21st Century carrier networks, and we are inviting vendors to display their compliance by using the MSF R3 logo on their equipment and in their marketing/ technical literature."
The MSF Release 3 Architectural Framework provides the essential context for the implementation of the physical components required in a multi-service, multi-vendor, open architecture Next Generation Network. The MSF Architectural Framework describes how key NGN components work together, and identifies key open interfaces. MSF IAs describe in detail how these physical interfaces should be implemented, selecting not just protocols but also specifying options and required additional functionality to increase interoperability between components from different vendors. Key interfaces covered in the guidelines range from transport control, through media gateway and session control, to application and database interfaces. Dan Warren, Senior Core Network Architect, Vodafone, commented: "The MSF guidelines go way beyond the functional specs delivered by 3GPP and TISPAN, as they really get down to the physical implementation, closing the gaps and the options to define something truly workable."
James McEachern, Nortel Carrier VoIP Standards specialist, and MSF Vice President explained: "The MSF is all about making NGNs work in the real world, and the MSF NGN guidelines are an important part of that. The detail provided by the MSF R3 Architectural Framework takes us beyond the one-off environment of an interoperability event and into the world of volume network deployment. At Nortel, we are proud to display the MSF R3 logo on our IMS products as a measure of our commitment to open standards."
Chris Gallon, Head of Systems Engineering at Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe, said: "We are proud to be ahead of the field, and these guidelines offer a good way to underline our commitment to next generation networking."
"This really drives home the benefits of GMI 2006 to carriers in implementing open, next generation network architecture," added Naseem Khan, Principal Member of Technical Staff at Verizon Labs. "The Guidelines offer a concise 12-page outline of the release 3 components and their relevant IAs. Also available is the MSF's more detailed 49-page Release 3 Architecture Framework document."
About MSF
The MultiService Forum (MSF) is a global association of service providers and system suppliers committed to developing and promoting open-architecture, multiservice switching systems. Founded in 1998, the MSF is an open-membership organization comprised of the world's leading telecommunications companies. The MSF's activities include developing Implementation Agreements, promoting worldwide compatibility and interoperability, and encouraging input to appropriate national and international standards bodies. For more information about the MSF and its members, visit the MSF web site at: http://www.msforum.org/
Editors Note:
Please join MSF press conference call on Tuesday, July 24th at 11am ET / 4pm UK / 5pm CET for a major industry announcement which will contribute towards accelerating the deployment of NGNs. URL: http://www.netevents.tv/docuplayer.asp?docid=111
Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)