Network Scheme For NGN And Soft-Switch

In recent years, a rapid development and enormous progress have been made in China's telecommunication network with remarkably enhanced integrated communication capabilities. However, as the communication industry becomes more integrated, telephone networks, computer networks and cable networks are incorporating with each other; leading to an ever-growing pressure on the network. The telecommunication carriers, facing the continuously increasing network burden and more diversified business needs, are striving to attract customers by offering more multimedia services, which are difficult for the current PSTN network to cope with.In the context of this development, a soft-switching technology based NGN network emerged. NGN, also known as Next Generation Network, is a milestone in the telecommunication history. It has an integrated, open network architecture, providing voice, data and multimedia services.This paper introduces the concept of NGN, its network architecture, protocols, the definition and functions of soft-switching, with a focus on the local exchange network lay out of Beijing Netcom. In the end, the two major trends of the future NGN, network integration and machine-to-machine application, are discussed.