Ip-Based Ngns and Interconnection: The Debate in Europe (Internet & NGN: the Future of Interconnection‪)‬

Historically, interconnection in the world of the Internet has been approached significantly differently from interconnection in the fixed Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the mobile Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). As fixed and mobile networks evolve to Next Generation Networks (NGNs) based on the Internet Protocol (IP), it becomes increasingly necessary to merge these perspectives in order to achieve a unified and integrated approach to network interconnection. We note at the outset that our topic in this paper is interconnection, which enables the respective customers of two different network operators to communicate with one another. Interconnection is related to, but distinct from, network access, where one network operator procures services from another in order to serve its own customers.