The future of Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC), the role of Internet Protocol (IP) v6, fibre architecture work and the successful deployment of IPTV over DSL were topics high on the agenda at the very first meeting of the Broadband Forum, formerly the DSL Forum.
Held in Stockholm, Sweden, the meeting got underway with an interactive panel entitled, 'Driving a Converged Broadband Network.'
The session included a panel discussion between 3GPP, the WiMAX Forum, the Broadband Forum and Ericsson -- the first time these three key industry consortiums had met to debate the future of FMC and how they can work together, utilising the expertise of each group to achieve their aims, which include driving common management and architecture specifications to support the growth of wireless broadband network options and provisioning and remote management of mobile broadband services and devices.
'FMC has a new meaning in the Internet age,' said Max Riegel, co-chair of the Networking Working Group of the WiMAX Forum. 'Enabling operators to complement their fixed broadband network with a wireless technology like Mobile WiMAX means they can provide nomadic, portable and mobile access to the Internet and IP services.'
Stephen Hayes, chairman, 3GPP systems group (3GPP-SA) continued, 'The Broadband Forum is leading the way in standards for fixed broadband and 3GPP is leading the way in standards for mobile broadband.
Collaboration between the two organizations is a natural and necessary step in ensuring that users can get the same services over both fixed and mobile accesses.'
The Forum's meeting also included a powerful keynote speech by Regina Donato Lundgren, Vice President and Head of IP Production at TeliaSonera. Responsible for the development lifecycle, network planning, build out and operations of the company's IP networks across Europe, Regina confirmed TeliaSonera's commitment to working alongside the Broadband Forum in the development of broadband standards.