Design and Capacity Planning of Next Generation Network (NGN)

Ali Amer, IEEE Member.

Saudi Telecom Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Email=aliamer@stc.com.sa
Figure 1: Typical PSTN Network
traditional PSTN uses Class5 and Class4 circuit
switches along with Time Division Multiplexing
(TDM) technology to transport voice[2]. It also
uses the SS7 signaling network to handle call
setup and teardown, plus other control functions.
Figure 1 depicts a typical PSTN network.

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Eventually, Legacy networks (PSTN) lack the
capability of providing multiservice, and getting
costly operated, therefore, it has to be migrated to
NGN which is considered as a service driven
Network[4]. In fact, much has been written,
debated, and posited about what exactly is this
Next generation network (NGN). The NGN
concept, defines telecommunication network
architectures, and technologies. It describes
networks that cover conventional PSTN type,
and data, as well as new types of service such as
video. All information is carried in packet
switched form[9]. In addition to that, NGN has
been promoted, to Network Operators and
service providers, as a new platform to decrease
the CAPEX and OPEX of their Network
Infrastructure, and increase their revenues.
The lTV defined the Next Generation Network
as a packet-based network able to provide
The current trend of fixed communication is multi-
services based on broadband access. This will
provide users with variety of communications
services (voice, data, video, and SIP based services),
and improve revenues for service providers. The
Abstract- The last decades has seen
tremendous shifts in the telecommunications
landscape. Telecom Operators and service
providers, are responding by adopting strategies
that lower their costs of operations and allow
them to offer rapidly new services with better
revenues.
The Next Generation Network (NGN) is a
network architecture that is ultimately designed
for new service provision, independent of access
technology. In addition to that, NGN can greatly
reduce Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and
Operational Expenditure (OPEX), enables
smooth transformation of the legacy networks
into a simpler, but more powerful, while keeping
compatibility to support traditional services.
Worldwide, NGN deployment is still at an early
stage, though some Telecom service providers
including incumbent are in the process of
finalizing their plans for deployment of NGN in
their networks. This is likely to be implemented
in a phased manner starting with core network
and then the access network, and finally service
provision.
The first and unavoidable phase of NGN
implementation is migrating the legacy
Networks, starting with the Public Switching
Telephone Network (PSTN) to NGN.
In this paper, we present a cost effective, future
proof solution architecture that can be used for
the design and planning of the NGN network
Elements (NEs) capacity and dimensioning, to
serve this migration Phase.
I. Introduction
II. NGN Architecture
Figure 2:NGN Architecture Layer Overview
The access plane provides the infrastructure (e.g.
access network between the end user and
transport network. The transport plane provides
the communication among the reference
architecture entities, as well as communication
between the neighboring layers of the functional
NGN model. The control plane is responsible for
the network elements and of services control.
The service plane provides the features of the
basic services that can be used for the
development of the more sophisticated services
and applications[18]. The NGN functional
Structure is outlined in Figure 2.
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Telecommunication networks architectures are
changing to meet new requirements for a
number of services/applications (Broadband, IP,
Multimedia, mobile, etc.)[20]. New generation
equipment (soft switches, databases, Media
gateways, Signaling gateways, new protocols,
and interfaces, etc.) and new call/mix traffic
cases are going to be introduced in the networks.
Standards bodies like lTV, and ETSI are
primarily working on the NGN architecture.
The Technical Committee for
Telecommunications and Internet converged
Services and Protocols for Advanced
Networking (TISPAN) of the ETSI, has
managed to complete a comprehensive
architectural specification to date. This
specification is referred to as TISPAN NGN Rl.
The TISPAN NGN Rl specification was
composed by leading vendors and service
providers, and is expected to cover service
provider requirements comprehensively, within
services including Telecommunication Services
and able to make use of multiple broadband,
QoS-enabled transport technologies, and in
which service-related functions are independent
from underlying transport-related technologies.
It offers unrestricted access by users to different
service providers. It supports generalized
mobility which will allow consistent and
ubiquitous provision of services to users[ 1].
Also, for the European Telecommunications
Institute (ETSI), the Next Generation Networks-
NGN, is a concept for defining and deploying
networks, which due to their formal separation
into different layers and use of open interfaces,
offers service providers and operators a platform
which can evolve in a step-by-step manner to
create, deploy, and manage innovative
services[ll ].
In general, NGN can be viewed as all IP
(Internet Protocol) or packet-based integrated
networks with a number of characteristics. NGN
does not only cover network characteristics but
also service characteristics which provide new
opportunities to network operators, service
providers, communications manufacturers and
users. On the architecture level, NGN provides
an open architecture by uncoupling applications
and networks, and allowing them to be offered
separately. In this context, the applications can
be developed independently regardless of the
network platforms being used. With an open
architecture, standardization becomes
increasingly important, but this allows network
operators to choose the best products available
and a new application can be implemented in a
much shorter period time than for the legacy
Networks such as PSTN for example[7]. Also,
third parties, can participate and develop
applications and services for end users. Service
providers, may package one or more
applications into a service offering or
applications may be utilized by users on a peer-
to-peer basis.
The NGN architecture is commonly structured
around the following four major layers (Planes)
of technology[l 2]:
Access Layer
Transport Layer
Control layer
Service/Application layer
its defined scope. The Architectural highlights
ofTISPAN NGN Release 1 include[10]:
o Support for SIP-based and non-SIP-based
applications
o IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for
conversational SIP-based applications
o PSTN Emulation Subsystem for supporting
PSTN/ISDN services over NGN
o Access agnosticism
o Support for complex commercial models
o Roadmap to fixed/mobile convergence
based on IMS
o Reuse and collaboration with other
Standards Development Organizations
(SDO), including 3GPP, DSL Forum and the
Multi-Service Forum (MSF)
The TISPAN Release 1 architecture is based on
the 3GPP IMS Release 6 architecture.
Different solutions/network architectures can be
taken into account for a smooth transition from
existing network infrastructures (PSTN/PLMN)
towards NGN. But a typical NGN network will
be based first on a softswitch solution
architecture that can separate call control from
the physical bearer and service platform from
call control[8]. Figure 3 summarizes a typical
NGN architecture.
sCWaS-anaLna .......y. ss- Set,"" TOW- Trunkana
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Figure 3: Typical NGN Architecture
III. Migration Strategy to NGN
NGN deployment worldwide is still at an early
stage, though some Telecom service providers
including incumbent Operators, are in the
process of finalizing their plans for deployment
ofNGN in their networks. Others, like KPN (in
Netherlands), or BT ("BT21 'CN project") have
already announced an all-embracing
reconstruction of their network[10]. This is
likely to be implemented in a phased manner
starting with core network and then for access
network and finally service provision. Network
migration to NGNs should adopt the concept of
"Evolution" rather than "Revolution". Evolution
to NGN is a process in which parts of the
existing networks are replaced or upgraded to
the corresponding NGN components providing
similar or better functionality, while maintaining
the services provided now by the original
network. The lTV recommended that To deploy
the NGN, complete replacement of existing
networks is not considered to be either advisable
or possible. So, a phased approach should be
considered for evolution of existing networks to
NGN."[13]. The evolution of networks to NGNs
must allow for the continuation of, and
interoperability with, existing networks while in
parallel, enabling the implementation of new
capabilities. NGN deployment strategies will
experience a long process, which can be divided
into several phases like building up the IP
bearer network (the IP/MPLS Core Network),
migrate PSTN, extend broadband access, deliver
multimedia services and finally realize the Fix
Mobile Convergence (FMC) .
In fact, two strategies have been considered for
such migration. The first, is called overlay
Strategy (Revolutionary) where a new NGN
network is deployed in parallel with the existing
traditional switched network. The second one, is
called Replace Strategy (Evolutionary) which
consist of replacing legacy Networks with
NGN. Each has its advantages and
disadvantages.
Our proposed solution, belongs to the
evolutionary strategy, where we replace the
legacy network gradually by a new NGN
network. Obviously, the PSTN is considered to
be the prime candidate for such evolution to
NGN [15].
IV. Generic Solution Architecture
Overview
Most of the Telecom Operators divide their
PSTN in Regions or Domains based on the
Network topology, Operation & Maintenance
(O&M) needs, and the geographical
Transmissions connectivity. Each region/domain
has certain number of Subscribers, Local
DomalnfN
exchanges, Transit Exchanges, Transmissions
rings, etc",) [2]. Our solution builds on the same
concept of region or domains, and assumes that,
the network is divided in N domains. The
proposed solution is a SoftSwitch based solution
that aims to build a new NGN network (physical
topology) and migrate the legacy network
(PSTN). The migration starts first with Class4
the transit exchanges (TEX), then Class5 (LE).
The solution can be evolved in the future to a
full IMS/TISPAN architecture. The solution
assumes the existence of an aggregation, Edge,
and backbone IP/MPLS network capable of
handling the traffic generated with the adequate
Quality of Service, and the required interfaces
which are mainly based on Ethernet. Figure 4
outlines the proposed solution architecture.
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Figure4:Proposed NGN Architecture
The solution Architecture consists of:
o Two Softswitches per Domain.
o Two Signaling Gateways
o Two Media Resource Server per
Domain.
o Each Class4 switch (Tandem
function) is replaced by Trunking
Gateway (TGW).
o Class5 switches are replaced by
Access Gateway (AGW) based on the
number of subscribers to be migrated.
All NGN NEs have carrier class reliability
design (1 1 redundancy). The softswitch, also
known as Media Gateway Controllers (MGC),
Call Servers (CS), and Call Agents, is the core
device in the NGN [8]. The Softswitch handles
call control, signaling functions, and interacts
with Application Servers (AS) to provide
services that are not directly hosted on
Softswitch. The Media gateway (MGW) used
here as Trunking gateway (TGW), resides
between the circuit switched (CS) network and
the IP network. It converts TDM Traffic to IP
media flow. The MGW can connect with
devices, such as the PSTN exchange, private
branch exchange (PBX), access network devices
and base station controller (BSC). A Signaling
Gateway (SGW) provides seamless signaling
between the IP and TDM Networks, under the
control of the Soft switch[7]. Media Resource
Server (MRS) Under the control of the
SoftSwitch, provides medium resource to packet
network. Unlike the traditional peripherals based
on circuit technology, MRS is directly based on
packet technology and eliminates the media
stream conversion between TDM and IP,
resulting in high quality medium flow on IP.
Access Gateway (AGW) acts as the line side
interface to the core IP network and connects
subscribers with analogue subscriber access,
integrated services digital network (ISDN)
subscriber access, V5 subscriber access, PABX
and digital subscriber line (xDSL) access.
The proposed solution, covers most of Telecom
operators requirements for a softswitch-based
call control NGN platform, it can be used for
migrating and evolving PSTN network into a
NGN infrastructure, and provides PSTN
Emulation System (PES). In the long run, the
proposed network can evolve into a full IMS
solution achieving the operator's ultimate goal
of providing Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC).
The solution assumes the existence of an
aggregation, edge, and backbone IP/MPLS
network capable of handling the traffic
generated with the adequate QoS, and the
required interfaces, which are mainly based on
Ethernet for connectivity to the NGN network
elements. In general terms, the TGWs and the
Soft Switches connect to the co-located
aggregation nodes of the IP/MPLS network.
psrn
The proposed solution also is designed on a 1 1
Configuration in addition to the dual homing
principle as illustrated in figure 5, and
summarized as follows:
o The TGW is connected to Two carrier class
(Real Time traffic) Provider edge router
(PE) in the IP core network.
o Soft Switch (A) and Soft Switch (B) support
backup role for each other
o If Soft Switch (A) fails, TGW(X) would
register to Soft Switch (B) automatically.
o The switching process is transparent to
subscribers, and there is no change in the
load of Trunks.
o Soft Switches detect the status of the peer
end switch by checking the heart beat
signals.
._---_._---_._-_._._._._._._._._._---_._._._._._._._--._._-_._._._._._-_._._._._._._._._._.,
NGN Domain X
PSlN
Heart bit - - Signaling Traffic - Bearer Traffic -
Figure 5: Dual homing of the NGN Solution
The dual homing solution is a network reliability
solution proposed to reduce the operation risk
since, the risk of having larger capacity of
softswitch is very high where a larger number of
services can be interrupted, revenue are loss
beside the heavy penalties for service by local
authority. Architecturally speaking, redundancy
is again the often approach of choice. System
reliability is addressed by implementing
redundant systems often operating in
synchronization but geographically separated
with redundant, diversely routed links providing
the interconnection.
v. Capacity Planning
Successful deployment of Next Generation
Networks depends on a cost effective design
and planning of the target network. Identifying
the location, the number ofNGN NEs, and the
link capacity between NGN NE is the crucial
part in any Network planning and dimensioning
process. In our solution, we start by dividing the
legacy Network in domains (regions), then we
deploy one pair of softswitch , one signaling
Gateway, and one Media Resource Server per
each domain. In addition to that, the TGW
replace the Class4 switches on a one to one basis.
LEs are replaced by AGW based on the number
of subscribers to be moved. Some operators are
using the Multiservice Access Node (MSAN) as
an AGW. Once the location and the nodes are
identified, the required capacity of the links
(bandwidths) can be calculated/dimensioned.
Figure 6 outlines the main links between
different NGN NEs, and their corresponding
bandwidth (B1 to B6).
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IF Network

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&AGW

Figure 6: B/W links between NGN NEs
For link capacity between NGN element, Busy
Hour Call Attempt (BHCA), and The Call
Attempts Per Second (CAPS) have to be defined
first:
BHCA= Total Number of users X User traffic
(Erl) X Average Call Duration.
CAPS= Total Number of Subscriber or Trunks
X Traffic in Busy Average Call Duration.
B1= Bandwidth (BW) between the two
Softswitches used for of SIP-T protocol.
B1= CAPS X Number of Messages for each call
X (Number of payload bytes for each message
+ Number of overhead Bytes for each message)
X 8 bits Bandwidth Redundancy factor (BRF),
for carrier Grade class the BRF= is taken as
70% or 0.7.
For back-up softswitch, each ISUP call needs 9
SIP-T messages, and 600 byte for each message.
So, total byte number of message is 9 X 600 =
5400 bytes. Total byte number of network
overhead is 9 X 66 = 594 bytes. So, signaling
bandwidth between the two Soft Switches is:
Bl= CAPS X (5400+594) X 8
B2= BW between SS and SGW (Bandwidth of
SIGTRAN M3UA Protocol).
B2 = CAPS X Number of messages for each call
X (Number of payload bytes for each message +
Number of overhead Bytes for each message) X
8 bits (Generally, the average number of
messages for the ISUP call of each PSTN is 6;
the number of messages for each V5 call is 21;
the number of messages that each PRA call
needs is 33).
B3= BW between the SS and the MRS
(Bandwidth of H.248 Protocol). For MRS, it
adopts MGCP protocol. Each call needs 8
messages, and average 73 byte per message. So,
total byte number of message is 8X73 = 584
byte. Total byte number of network overhead is
8X66 = 528 bytes.
B3 = CAPS X Number of messages for each call
X (Number of payload bytes for each message +
Number of overhead Bytes for each message) X
8 bits
B4= BW between SS and TGW (Bandwidth of
H.248 Protocol).
B4 = CAPS X Number of messages for each call
X (Number of payload bytes for each message +
Number of overhead Bytes for each message) X
8 bits BRF.
B5= BW between SS and AGW (Bandwidth of
H.248 Protocol) .
AGW CAPS= Number of Subs X Avg. Traffic
per Sub Average Holding time
B5 = CAPS X Number of messages for each call
X (Number of payload bytes for each message +
Number of overhead Bytes for each message) X
8 bits Bandwidth Redundancy factor.
B6= BW between TGW and IP Core
(Bandwidth between IP core and TGW).
B6 = [Total Number of trunks X Average
Traffic per Trunk (Erl) X Payload flow
bandwidth (the service)]
Hence, the Bandwidth required between TGW
and the core IP Network (PE) is depending on
the Total Number of Trunks managed by each
TGW.
VI. Case Study: Saudi Telecom Network
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) is the
incumbent Telecom operator in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, and one of the largest Telecom
Service provider in the Middle East. STC is
considered as a technology smart follower
company. It has recognized the need for
migrating its network infrastructure to an NGN
platform that can support the provision of more
advanced services efficiently and cost
effectively to its customers. STC has decided to
start migrating its PSTN network to NGN, in
order to construct a unified service platform to
meet fixed & mobile customer's requirement in
the near future, and to increase revenue and
customer's loyalty. The same solution presented
in this paper has been adopted and it's in the
rollout phase now. Figure 7 outlines the STC
NGN architecture.
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Figure7: STC NGN Network Architecture
VII. Conclusion
NON deployment is still at an early stage,
though some Communications service
providers, including incumbent Operators
have started migrating their legacy networks
to NON. The salient driver behind this
migration is to reduce the costs of building
and operating a number of separate
networks. In this paper, we have presented a
softswitch based solution, that can be used
to migrate the PSTN to NON. Also the
Network capacity planning (Location,
Number of NON NEs, and signaling Link
capacity ) has been presented. Also, the
proposed solution has been adopted by
Saudi Telecom company.
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