The network operator diets from four networks to one – New Technology

     Click the image on the right for a larger version. Photo: Graphics: Jonas Askergren
     

The telecommunications industry is gearing up for upheaval. The existing networks are not sufficient for the dramatic growth of traffic on the internet. The solution is to merge the networks for fixed telephony, mobile telephony, Internet and television services and build something completely new with 50 times more capacity or more.

     Click image for larger version. Photo: Graphics: Jonas Askergren
     

     Patrik Wallström.

     Anne-Marie Eklund Löwinder. Photo: Punkt.se
     

Network operators worldwide struggle with the problem. German Deutsche Telekom is in the forefront and has developed Tera Stream, a new network architecture for future networks. The goal is to start large-scale deployment 2016-2017, according to informed sources.

– We have proven that our new network architecture Tera Stream works in A pilot network in Croatia, says Axel Clauberg, responsible for Terastrem at Deutsche Telekom.

Traditionally, large network operators such as Deutsche Telekom, Telia and Telenor separate networks for mobile and fixed telephony, Internet and TV. That is what must change. Deutsche Telekom will close the old fixed telephone network in Germany in 2018. Syllabus is that the GSM network and 3G networks will be integrated with Tera Stream which also takes care of fixed broadband and 4G.

The Swedish computer technician Peter Löthberg singled out as the main architect of Tera Stream, but Peter himself would not confirm its role in detail. He says that he has played a pivotal role in establishing Tera Stream.

– Deutsche Telekom asked me to bring forward proposals for a new network architecture. My ambition is to try to reduce the amount of equipment in the network so that Tera Stream becomes as cheap as possible, says Peter Löthberg.

Above all, the capacity of the core network that increases tremendously heavily in Tera Stream, compared with today’s networks. Many other operators are heading in the same direction. AT & T stated lie flush with Deutsche Telekom, but AT & T has not yet published its new network architecture.

– Tera Stream has revolutionized the internet and telecommunications industry, says Anne-Marie Eklund Löwinder, säkerhetsschef and Quality Manager at The Internet Infrastructure Foundation.

– Tera Stream represents a vision that many network elements, but each operator has different starting points and paths towards the vision. Tera Stream is a good vision that shows the new technological opportunities, says Tommy Ljunggren, head of network architecture in TeliaSonera Group.

Telia is now working on its future network architecture and how new technologies can best be used, for example, so-called virtualization that has long been used in large data centers, which means that specialized equipment is replaced with software that runs on standard servers. It provides increased flexibility, and a central task for architectures that Tera Stream is faster and easier to offer new services of various kinds to subscribers.

– When Tera Stream is running and verified on a large scale, other operators will be forced to build similar architectures. It may take some years before it is finished standard products. My assessment is that operators Telia and Telenor will introduce similar network architecture, but it will take a few years, says Patrik Wallström, technical expert on Internet Infrastructure Foundation.

In the spring of 2014, AT & T reported that they begin to invest in the new technology this year. Industry experts estimate that AT & T in 2020 introduced the new technology in areas of the U.S. where it is profitable. AT & T has chosen Ericsson as one of several suppliers.

– I estimate that Deutsche Telekom and AT & T today is at least one year ahead of its nearest competitors when it comes to introducing new technologies. In 2020, the 20 largest operators caught up with Deutsche Telekom and AT & T. Then there are standardized products and skills available, says Aksay Sharma, an expert in network infrastructure at research firm Gartner.

Axel Clauberg report that Deutsche Telekom now working to get many vendors offering products for Tera Stream. He emphasizes that the operators can not expect to in the future get paid more of their usual household today. Hence, the requirement that Tera Stream to deliver at least 30-50 times higher capacity but without the usual subscriber may pay more. This places a heavy demand on Tera Stream.

Footnote: New Technology has repeatedly tried to talk with Ericsson Tera Stream. But Ericsson declines to comment.