The Changing Landscape

Telecoms Academy i
DIPLOMA IN 21
ST
CENTURY
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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21st Century Communications
The Changing Landscape
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MODULE 1
THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE
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Index
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21ST CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS INDEX
Section 1 Telecommunication Networks 1
Module 1 The Changing Landscape 3
Lesson 1 Introduction 5
Legacy Networks 5
Structure and Requirements 5
Network Basics 6
Circuit switching 6
Packet switching 8
Standard Architecture 10
What is the Internet? 12
Self Assessment Multiple Choice 15
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 17
Lesson 2 Industry Trends 19
The Broadband Market 22
Self Assessment Multiple Choice 25
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 27
Lesson 3 Dening Convergence and Convergence ModeIs 29
Convergence and Multi-play Services 30
The Customers View 31
Convergence the Players 33
Self Assessment Multiple Choice 35
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 37
Section 1 End of Section Practice Paper 41
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 45
Section 2 Convergence Issues 47
Lesson 1 The Impact of the Internet and the Web 49
Legacy Service Delivery 49
Services Supported By The Internet 50
The Impact of Web 2.0 52
What is Web 2.0? 52
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Self Assessment Multiple Choice 55
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 57
Lesson 2 Fixed-MobiIe Convergence (FMC) 59
FMC evolution 60
FMC Players 62
Example FMC service (BT Fusion Service) 63
Background 63
The Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) Project 64
Fusion Confguration 65
Generic Radio Access 66
Roving 66
Handover 67
Self Assessment Multiple Choice 69
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 71
Lesson 3 MuIti-pIay Services 73
How Advanced is the Market? 73
The NTL Telewest & Virgin Mobile 4 for 40 plan 74
Neuf Cegetels TWIN phone 76
Telecom Italia 77
Why are operators bothering with triple and quadruple play? 78
What are the potential risks? 79
Self Assessment Multiple Choice 81
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 83
Lesson 4 The Changing Role Of The Regulator 85
Protect Consumers against Monopoly Power 85
A key challenge for future licensing Convergence 86
Different defnitions of FMC 86
Regulatory approaches to implementing FMC 87
Common Carrier Approach 88
Horizontal Licensing Approach 88
Common Carrier Approach 89
Horizontal Licensing Approach 89
Index
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Self Assessment Multiple Choice 91
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 93
Section 2 Practice Paper 95
End of Section Practice Paper 97
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid 101
Section 3 Operator Case Studies 103
Lesson 1 MuIti-pIay Services - The Drivers 105
Company Positioning 109
Lesson 1 Questions 111
Lesson 1 Operator Case Studies 113
Lesson 2 Case Study 1 - The Fixed Network Operator 115
Neuf Cegetel (France) 115
Country Background 115
Neuf Cegetel 117
Neuf Cegetel Strategy 117
Lesson 2 Question 121
Lesson 3 Case Study 2 - The MobiIe Network Operator 123
Telecom Italia (Italy) 123
Country Background 123
Telecom Italia 125
Telecom Italia - Strategy 125
Lesson 3 Question 129
Lesson 4 Case Study 3 - The CabIe TeIevision Provider 131
Virgin Media (UK) [Formerly NTL Telewest] 131
Country Background 131
Virgin Media 133
Virgin Media Strategy 133
Lesson 4 Question 137
Section 3 Practice Paper 139
End of Section Practice Paper 141
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The Changing Landscape
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21ST CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module you should be able to:
Describe the architecture and capabilities of legacy telecommunication
networks
Explain the structure of the Internet and explain how it differs from telecoms
networks
Identify the main trends in the telecoms industry, including subscriber
numbers, revenues, services and technologies
Identify the various interpretations of convergence and describe the impact of
convergence on operators and customers
Understand the strategies of network operators and service providers as they
evolve to triple-play and quad-play service packages
Describe the Web2.0 concept and explain how it is infuencing telecoms
development
Defne the term Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) and describe how networks
operators can support FMC
Identify the main drivers for multiplay services and describe the possible
impacts on the operators business model
Understand how the role of the regulator will change with the advent of multi-
play services and convergence
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SECTION 1
TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS
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LESSON 1 INTRODUCTION
This module commences by reviewing the network architectures of legacy networks and
the technology deployed in these networks. This is supported by a snapshot of industry
trends in terms of subscriber numbers, revenues which provide a commercial start point
for the remainder of the module.
The module proceeds to consider triple-play and quad-play services, by defning these
services and analysing the motivation for various network operators to offer multi-play.
Also considered is the impact of the Internet and the Web on telecoms and broadcasting
so that the changing landscape can be explored the blurring of lines between telcos,
broadcasters and Internet Service Providers is examined as each of these cross the
traditional boundaries between market segments.
Finally the module contains some case studies of diverse organisations that have
commenced their multi-play service offerings in various markets, these are used to
illustrate how the whole market is changing and will be engaged by a range of different
organisations.
Legacy Networks
An operational telecommunications network is that which provides services, features, and
access to applications for telecommunications customers. In most networks, the range
and complexity of services and features is growing rapidly, and any infrastructure put
in place to those support services needs to be increasingly fexible, scalable, and cost
effective.
Structure and Requirements
It is extremely important to the overall business plan to get the structure of the operational
network right. This means choosing the right vendors, implementing the right service
solutions, and ensuring the equipment is updated regularly as new software revisions are
provided.
However, these considerations only deal with the services offered to the user, and
although it is essential to get this mix right, it only forms part of the overall requirement.
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Other factors such as a high degree of reliability and redundancy, rapid service
implementation and provisioning, and integration with an effective Operational Support
System is equally important to ensure that overall customer satisfaction is as high as
possible.
Much of these considerations will be satisfed by an effective network architecture
that allows the advanced features and services (which are now a part of most modern
networks) to be offered reliably and at a cost that matches the needs of the customer and
business case, whilst keeping costs to a minimum, but allowing for rapid provisioning and
for any future capacity requirements.
Operational Network
Effective and Flexible infrastructure
- Scalable
Standard interfaces
- Cost effective
High degree of reliability and redundancy
Capable of supporting advanced services and products
Facilitate rapid provisioning
Be fully integrated with systems such as billing and OSS
Network Basics
Circuit switching
In circuit switched networks a dedicated path is setup between the two parties. This path
remains for the exclusive use of both parties for the duration of the call, and is therefore
not available to any other users.
There is a delay involved in setting up circuit switched calls as each of the switching
nodes has to route the call. However the actual delays encountered once the connection
has been established are minimal. This makes circuit switching ideal for voice and other
real time applications.
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Circuit switching can be ineffcient in its use of network resources. During a voice
conversation there are periods when neither party is talking, but the connection is still tied
up and unavailable for other users. Similarly bursty data, which has gaps between the
data, is not effciently carried over circuit switching networks.
Charging for circuit switched services is generally based on the duration of the call.
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the Integrated Services Digital
Network (ISDN) are examples where circuit switching is employed.
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z Dedicated path is set up
z Circuit remains for the exclusive use of
both parties for the duration of the call
z No significant delays
z nefficient use of network resources
z Suited to voice and other real time
services
z Examples include PSTN and SDN
z Charging based on call duration
z The Past
Figure 1 Circuit Switching in Telecommunications Networks
Packet switching
Packet switching involves dividing the data to be transmitted into packets (or cells or
frames) prior to transmission. The length of the packets varies enormously depending on
the technology employed.
Added to each packet is the destination address together with other control information.
The packets are then transmitted across the network, due to this addressing there a no
requirement to use a pre-established link. To some extent each individual packet can be
said to be able to fnd its own way to its destination.
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In a packet switched network the resources are shared between many users. This leads
to more effcient use of these resources than provided for by circuit switching techniques.
However with packet switching there is a danger of congestion occurring. The subsequent
delays are both variable and unpredictable. Much effort has been put into reducing these
delays for applications that require near real-time transmission such as voice telephony.
When data is divided into packets it does not follow that all the packets which contain
the original data will follow the same route to the destination. This can mean that packets
arrive out of sequence and have to be re-assembled in the correct order before delivery to
the recipient.
Examples of packet switching technologies include X25, Frame Relay, ATM and the
Internet. As it is possible to charge for throughput rather than duration within a packet
switched network, it is more feasible to have permanent online connections than can be
provided for by traditional circuit switched networks.
Most commentators see packet switching as the future backbone of new high-bandwidth
telecommunications services.
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z No dedicated circuit
z Transmission links are shared
between users
z Variable and unpredictable delays
z Efficient use of network resources
z Suited to data transmission
z Examples include the nternet,
X.25, Frame Relay, ATM
z Charging to be based on
throughput
z The Future
Figure 2 Packet Switching in Telecommunications Networks
Standard Architecture
A generic telecommunications network architecture consists of multiple access networks
and a core network. The core network is split into a Circuit-Switched (CS) Domain and a
Packet-Switched (PS) Domain.
These domains could represent either the PSTN (CS) and IP Core Network used for
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) access (PS), or maybe the GSM Circuit
Switched network and GPRS. In either case, standard interfaces are provided between
the relevant network elements.
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In addition, the networks support standard interfaces to act as gateways into the
wider world of telecommunications (either the Internet, corporate intranets, or other
CS networks. Services are supported by functionality within the switching elements
themselves, or (increasingly) within standalone servers, or families of servers.
Third party service providers are being provided with standard interfaces in the form
of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), through which they can gain access to
network information for the purposes of service provision. They are becoming more
widespread, and examples include interfaces known as Parlay, JAIN, and OSA (for the
mobile environment).
Billing and other real time support functions also have connections to relevant operational
network elements.
Figure 3 Generic Telecommunications Network Architecture
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The Internet - Features And Architecture
What is the Internet?
The Internet is comprised of a very large number of computer networks that are connected
together. A universal addressing system ensures that it is possible to fnd any computer
within any of the interconnected networks easily. Standard communication protocols have
been established so that even computers running different operating systems may work
together on the Internet.
The Internet is designed so that should a particular segment fail, the rest of the network
will continue to function. It was the desire to produce a fault-tolerant network that was one
of the US Department of Defenses aims in commissioning the work on the pre-Internet
Arpanet.
The Internet is not owned by any single government, company or individual. It is not
controlled at any one location and so is a decentralised network.
There are a number of organisations that control certain aspects of the Internet such as
the allocation of domain names. However there is no dedicated police force that controls
the content of the Internet. Some of the bodies involved in the setting of standards on the
Internet are listed below:
the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) sets the standards for HTML and the
development of the WWW
the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) focuses on the evolution of the
Internet
the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) leads the organisations
responsible for assigning IP addresses
and the internet Network Information Centre (InterNIC) is responsible for
assigning domain names.
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Network of networks
Not owned by any single government, company or individual
A number of organisations are responsible for setting
standards and naming. (W3C, ETF, ANA, nterNC etc.)
Figure 4 The Internet
The Internet Infrastructure Infrastructure
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide access points into the Internet for dial up,
corporate and mobile users. ISPs vary in size enormously, with anything between 100s
and 10s of millions of customers. Almost anyone can setup business as an ISP all
that is required is the basic infrastructure equipment and a connection to a larger ISP. It
remains to be seen whether the smaller ISPs will ultimately survive or whether eventually
there will be only the large players left in the market.
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The largest ISPs with their own backbone networks are often referred to as Network
Service Providers. Some of these have invested in global networks that provide national
and international connections with very high bandwidths.
Obviously there is a need for the larger Internet backbone networks to be connected
together. This happens at Network Access Points (NAPs) and Metropolitan Area
Exchanges (MAEs). NAPs and MAEs perform the same function, but in general MAEs are
privately owned and operated.
An example of a NAP is Telehouse situated in Docklands, London, UK. Within the
centre, a number of NSPs house terminal equipment so that their networks may be
interconnected.
In the early days of the Internet it was possible to map out all of its connections on a
single piece of paper. This is now an impossibility as the Internet now comprises huge
amounts of interconnections and multitudes of nodes. Most ISPs and NSPs do however
have detailed maps on their web pages of their own networks.
Figure 5 Internet Architecture
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Self Assessment Multiple Choice
Legacy Networks
Q1.
Which of the following networks typically employs circuit-switching?
a) The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
b) The Internet
c) X.25-based networks
d) GPRS mobile networks
Q2.
Which of the following is not a packet-based technology?
a) Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
b) Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)
c) Internet Protocol (IP)
d) ITU X.25
Q3.
A third-party application developer may deliver services in to a telecommunications
network by means of:
a) The Access Network (AN)
b) The Packet Switched (PS) Core
c) An Application Programming Interface (API)
d) The Operational Support Subsystem (OSS)
Q4.
Which body is responsible for setting Internet standards?
a) World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
b) The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
c) The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)
d) Internet Network Information Centre (InterNIC)
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Q5.
The role of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is:
a) Provide high-capacity backbone Internet connections
b) Deliver services such as Voice over IP (VoIP)
c) Provide billing services for Internet application developers
d) Provide Internet access for individual and corporate users
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Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid
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Question a b c d
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LESSON 2 INDUSTRY TRENDS
Although there is what could be described as a set of general trends within the telecoms
segment, each region, country and even operator occupies their particular point within
those trend curves. For example many western European markets are saturated or close
to saturation whereas the same can not be said of many African or Far Eastern markets.
However, the general trends are:
% subscriber number growth slowing (some exceptions)
% Average Revenue Per Subscriber (ARPU), static or falling
% mobile subscriptions overtaking fxed line subscriptions
% rapid growth in broadband access
% xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) being the most common broadband access
% operator growth will come from new services (rather than increased revenue or
greater subscriber numbers)
Figure 6 Broadband v PSTN Revenues
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Figure 7 Share of Broadband Market
The mobile market segment is still growing in some countries, notably in the Asia Pacifc
region. Elsewhere the market is nearing, or has reached, saturation and with subscriber
(subscription) levels are over 100% there is little growth in these markets. In addition
revenues (ARPU) are decreasing and therefore operators can only increase revenues
by taking market share from competitors and generating new revenue streams from new
services.
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Figure 8 Service Revenue Trends
Figure 9 Mobile Subscriber Numbers
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Figure 10 Mobile Subscriber Penetration Forecasts
The Broadband Market
One result of price competition across all broadband industry segments is an important
shift in revenues between sub sectors of the industry. The coming years will see a decline
in revenues from what have hitherto been regarded as fxed services towards mobile ones
at least in developed markets. Mobile data, it is hoped, will in time replace lost revenues
from voice and straightforward broadband connections. Separately, revenues will also be
derived from offering a bundle of services together.
Convergence meanwhile will intensify competition, both due to the lower-cost technology
and a speedier time to market, as well as the ability for both types of operators to play in
one another's space as the barriers between fxed and mobile blur. While the European
mobile markets now count between three and fve network operators and the broadband
fxed-line markets between fve and nine signifcant players the average number of
potential players on the 'convergent' fxed-mobile market is between eight or nine.
However, to view revenues as attributable to specifc industry areas, even for the still
relatively separate mobile and fxed sides of the business, may become misleading as
more and more operators launch triple plays which bundle not only services but also
revenues. For example, the Total Broadband package offered by the UK incumbent
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BT will, when its IPTV service is ready, comprise voice calls, including access to its
converged offering Fusion (via Wi-Fi), access to broadband Internet and access to its
IPTV service BT Vision (available in autumn 2006). Similarly, in France Neuf Cegetel is
offering a triple-play package for E29.90 (US$38) to new subscribers. The subscription
comprises the Wi-Fi enabled Neuf Box, capable of 20Mbps Internet access, unlimited
telephone calls and a 60-channel Neuf TV service.
Other triple play launches, such as China Network Systems VoIP, cable TV and
broadband triple play in Taiwan and Deutsche Telekoms plans with Alcatel to deploy triple
play services in 10 German cities, will share the common characteristic that the revenue is
for the bundle, not split out for the services that comprise it.
And a fourth element is being added to the triple play. If NTLs quad-play model, a product
of the merger between NTL and Virgin Mobile, is replicated elsewhere as expected, the
blurring of revenue origination will go further.
Figure 11 The Global Broadband Market
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Figure 12 - Regional Broadband Market Breakdown
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Self Assessment Multiple Choice
Industry Trends
Q1.
In a mature telecommunications market, how is a network operator most likely to
successfully increase revenues?
a) A signifcant increase in subscriber numbers
b) Raising prices for all services
c) Introducing new, and innovative services
d) Locking customers into long-term service contracts
Q2.
On a global basis over the period to 2011 the dominant form of broadband access is
predicted to be:
a) Mobile networks such as UMTS or CDMA2000
b) Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
c) Cable networks
d) Satellite-based networks
Q3.
Many network operators are trying to secure revenues by:
a) Offering multiplay services
b) Focusing on one main service, e.g. voice
c) Developing their own television content
d) Deploying multiple parallel network architectures
Q4.
Classical triple-play is combination of which services?
a) Telephony, Internet and Television
b) Telephony, Mobile and Internet
c) Mobile, Internet and Television
d) Telephony, Mobile and Internet
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Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid
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LESSON 3 DEFINING CONVERGENCE AND
CONVERGENCE MODELS
The term convergence means different things to different people in different contexts.
In the telecom billing arena the term is generally used to refer issuing a customer with
a single bill for multiple services, such as: fxed and mobile telephony, cable TV and
telephony, telephony and utilities such as gas and water. At the end of the last century this
was the general usage of the word.
More recently convergence has increasingly been used in relation to the bringing together
of the billing of postpaid and prepaid mobile services. Prepaid mobile has been a huge
success worldwide. Initially it was seen more as a service for users generating a low
ARPU (average revenue per user) and the more credit-challenged, but it quickly became
a payment method of choice for many.
The introduction of data services via GPRS and now 3G has introduced another element
into the equation. On the one hand some prepaid service users may be deterred from
using high-cost services by the need to prepay. On the other hand, postpaid users may
wish to limit their risk by having pre-set limits attached to their use of data services.
Both of these scenarios ideally require the ability to provide and charge for prepaid and
postpaid services on a single SIM card.
Operators recognise the value of offering bundles or plans to both business and family
users. A number of handsets, which may be a combination of prepaid and postpaid,
are supplied to a company or family, but they are billed to a single point. There are also
benefts in being able to apply CRM (customer relationship management) across all
customers and apply certain tariffs regardless of the customers payment method.
Outside of billing considerations, convergence is also used to represent the any
content anywhere requirements of todays customers. Convergence may be a technical
convergence within a telecoms network, such as that being undertaken by British Telecom
(BT) in the UK, or it may be the use of converged devices by end users.
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Convergence - What is it?
Substitution vs convergence?
Single bill?
low-cost bundle?
Single device?
Single network?
Convergence and MuIti-pIay Services
Many countries are reaching a pivotal point in the evolution of their telecoms and media
industries. The once separate fxed telecoms, mobile telecoms and TV businesses are,
after many years of talk, actually starting to converge. Individual companies are offering
a full range of services and content and some are not too far (perhaps a couple of years)
from being able to offer them all in a seamless fashion across a range of devices.
Leading markets are characterised by a clash between heavyweight players from the
telecoms and pay-TV industries and jockeying for position is intense. Media noise and
media manipulation is at a high, as investments are running into many billions of dollars
and players are keen to ensure their new triple and quadruple play service offerings do not
enter the market with a whimper.
Operators that can exploit quadruple play packaging as well as (or better than) the
cable operators, which have already exploited the fxed triple play of TV, broadband and
telephony, potentially have a lot to gain. New entrants hope to use quadruple play to win
new customers and expand market share. Market leaders hope to use the quadruple play
to retain share and reduce churn.
But there is also a lot to lose. If the world evolves in the way many operators would like
it to (i.e. people using a range of device and network-agnostic applications, services
and content), the industry is going to go through a pretty major transformation and many
providers will get it wrong, and disappear.
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Facing a slowing market but increasing competition in many countries, mobile operators
have a dilemma. They need to replace falling voice revenues with data. To do that they
need to decide whether future customers will be happy to buy everything over mobile,
or whether a mobile-only play will look unattractive in comparison with fully converged
quadruple play offers from competitors. f they decide they need a fxed and or TV
accompaniment to their mobile services they must divide their attentions and their
investments. They must also choose whether to build or whether to buy wholesale in order
to enter adjacent markets. If they choose to invest in their own networks, they could spend
millions of dollars without gaining much in terms of revenue or market share. Worse still,
they could invest but fnd they have been outmanoeuvred and still lose customers. f they
take the wholesale route they might not have suffcient fexibility to match facilities-based
rivals innovations.
The Customers View
The most obvious beneft of convergence for users is the potential for cost savings that
result from taking multiple services from the same operator. The customer should get a
single bill and have a single point of contact for customer services. Furthermore fexibility
to add extra services, or changes to existing services, should make the customer feel in
control.
However, there are potential issues, particularly for network operators, as a problem with
one service may result in a customer churning and the loss of revenue for a whole bundle
of services. This is where the importance and strength of a brand has a key role to play.
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The Customer's View of Convergence?
+ cheaper?
more predictable?
more convenient?
extra services?
respected brand?
- all eggs in one basket?
less choice?
more expensive?
poorer quality?
disrespected brand?
The key driver for network operators, when considering convergence, is the generation
of new or extra streams of revenue. This is particularly relevant in the many markets
which are saturated and where operators have little opportunity to signifcantly increase
subscriber revenues.
The potential of convergence or multi-play can be illustrated by analysing the Average
Revenue Per User (ARPU) for a range of bundled service options.
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Figure 13 The Financial Impact of Convergence
Convergence the PIayers
A wide range of organisations are positioned, or are positioning themselves, to offer
converged services. They include the traditional telecoms network operators (telcos) and
Virtual Network Operators (VNOs), mobile operators and MVNOs, broadcasters and even
Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who on the back of broadband delivery can offer other
bundled services.
It is also evident that other new players from outside of these sectors are entering the
converged services market due to the liberalisation of telecoms and their ability to access
connections to customers (for example through local loop unbundling [LLU]).
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Figure 14 Multi-play/Converged Services The Players
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Self Assessment Multiple Choice
Dening Convergence..
Q1.
Which of the following is not an example of convergence?
a) The substitution of a fxed phone with mobile
b) Multiple services delivered over a single network
c) Multiple services delivered to a single device
d) A single bill for multiple services
Q2.
A market leader is most likely to deploy quadruple play services to:
a) Retain market share and minimise churn
b) Attract new customers and increase market share
c) Prevent other market players from offering quadruple play
d) Increase the revenues from core services such as telephony
Q3.
What type of network operator or service provider is likely to start by providing broadband
connectivity and adding telephony followed by television to this service?
a) Broadcaster
b) Mobile Virtual Network Operator
c) Fixed line operator
d) Internet Service Provider
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Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid
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SECTION 1
PRACTICE PAPER
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End of Section Practice Paper
Describe the difference between circuit switching and packet switching and explain why
packet switching will be the basis of next generation telecoms networks.
What is the role of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and where is an ISP positioned in
terms of the architecture of the Internet?
In many countries the revenue generated from PSTN services is in decline, explain the
factors that are producing this trend.
List the technologies that can be used to provide subscribers with broadband access to
telecoms services.
Give three different interpretations of the term convergence and describe how
convergence is most visible to the end-user.
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Q1.
Which of the following networks typically employs circuit-switching?
a) The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
b) The Internet
c) X.25-based networks
d) GPRS mobile networks
Q2.
A third-party application developer may deliver services in to a telecommunications
network by means of:
a) The Access Network (AN)
b) The Packet Switched (PS) Core
c) An Application Programming Interface (API)
d) The Operational Support Subsystem (OSS)
Q3.
Which body is responsible for assigning IP addresses?
a) World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
b) The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
c) The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)
d) Internet Network Information Centre (InterNIC)
Q4.
The role of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is:
a) Provide high-capacity backbone Internet connections
b) Deliver services such as Voice over IP (VoIP)
c) Provide billing services for Internet application developers
d) Provide Internet access for individual and corporate users
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Q5.
On a global basis over the period to 2011 the dominant form of broadband access is
predicted to be:
a) Mobile networks such as UMTS or CDMA2000
b) Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
c) Cable networks
d) Satellite-based networks
Q6. Classical triple-play is combination of which services?
a) Telephony, Internet and Television
b) Telephony, Mobile and Internet
c) Mobile, Internet and Television
d) Telephony, Mobile and Internet
Q7. A new market entrant is most likely to deploy quadruple play services to:
a) Retain market share and minimise churn
b) Attract new customers and increase market share
c) Prevent other market players from offering quadruple play
d) Increase the revenues from core services such as telephony
44 Telecoms Academy
21st Century Communications
The Changing Landscape
Telecoms Academy 45
Self Assessment Multiple Choice Answer Grid
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46 Telecoms Academy
21st Century Communications