IP in Mobile Networks - A Guide to Operations and Management

About this title:

Mobile networks are evolving quickly. No longer simply facilitators of voice communications on the move, they now offer a wide range of data services for both businesses and consumers, ranging from SMS and MMS, through VPNs to video telephony. IP is at the heart of today's and tomorrow's mobile networks, and the operations and management (O&M) of mobile data requires knowledge of both the mobile and IP environments. As the complexity of networks, applications and terminals increases, so do the challenges of O&M and the associated expenditure on IT within the business.

"IP in Mobile Networks - a Guide to Operations and Management' is an invaluable guide for anyone who needs to understand the demands of converged cellular mobile and IP networks. This includes senior decision makers such as: Chief Operations Officers (COOs), Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Network Operations Directors, and other senior operational staff from mobile service providers. It is also highly relevant for: consultants, application developers and system integrators who provide OSS related solutions to the cellular industry. Vendors of network equipment (terminals, access and core network) and service related solutions will also benefit from the handbook, as it will give them a better understanding of their customers" O&M needs.

Beginning with a general review of key IP concepts and management capabilities, 'IP in Mobile Networks - a Guide to Operations and Management' gives you an overview of 2.5G and 3G networking concepts from the IP viewpoint, including both European (UMTS) and North American (cdma2000) technologies. It goes on to describe how a representative sample of 2.5G and 3G IP-based services are realised.

You will then be taken in detail through the key O&M issues surrounding IP in mobile networks. The authors explain the impacts of IP enabled 3G networks on a 2.5G mobile operator"s existing OSS applications, considering the full range of network, service and business management systems. The authors review future technologies (such as 4G) and the possible O&M impact these will have.

How do I use this handbook?

"IP in Mobile Networks - a Guide to Operations and Management' provides clear explanations of mobile IP concepts and a solid framework within which to design your O&M strategy. It is a hands-on source of information for the mobile data professional, who wishes to understand the O&M implications of the convergence of IP and mobile technologies.

Unlike a consultant, this guide is always there for you to refer to, either in paper or electronic form. 'IP in Mobile Networks - a Guide to Operations and Management' is a resource to help you get things right first time.

About the authors

Luca Burroughs has worked in the telecommunications and IT industries since 1972, and is currently an independent consultant specialising in IP network design, implementation and operation. Prior to this he held a senior technical position with Nortel Networks, working for several years with new service providers in specifying, designing and setting up data and voice networks using a variety of technologies including IP, ATM and optical. From 1994 to 1996 he was in the team which designed and implemented the first network deployments for Energis, the UK based telecommunications operator, with responsibility for OSS supplied by Nortel and other vendors.

Luca has worked for several EU and US based companies in technical, management and consulting roles, and his experience includes network design and implementation, software engineering for telecommunications systems and OSS, and business development. He is a Chartered Engineer in the UK and Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Dr Tony Judge is an independent telecommunications consultant with over 18 years experience of the telecommunications and IT sectors. He is a specialist in: operations support systems (OSS), customer care, billing and network operations for service provider and supplier organisations. Working with his clients" senior executives, he has successfully delivered a wide range of consultancy projects, including: major OSS procurements, operations strategies for start-ups, business requirements for mobile Internet services, OSS architecture and quality of service management. He is the author of an earlier book on OSS for telcos and ISPs. He has worked in significant operational roles for BT, Energis, Nortel Networks and GTS.

Tony has broad experience of the market for commercial OSS and of the technologies employed in today"s telecom networks. He has worked on multiple assignments for various UK, EU and US based companies, including mobile and fixed line operators. His more recent experience involved working on a mobile Internet platform development for a leading multinational mobile service provider.