Next-generation corporate networks

The Internet Protocol will bring together two disparate networks now vital to every business: the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and the Internet. Next generation enterprise networks (NGENs) must fulfill current expectations for corporate networks, plus also seamlessly support mobility and multimedia applications. And they must do this within flexible, often adaptive, self-configuring, and interoperable architectures. NGENs also must be user-friendly and scalable. They must support bandwidth and quality-of-service (QoS) requirements, in addition to delivering the expected reliability and availability. To meet these requirements, the trend is to consolidate disparate networks into one simple (IP only) high-capacity, reliable, scalable, QoS-aware network. NGENs will use one set of protocols (such as IPv4 or IPv6), processes, and vendors and one set of management, administration, and billing processes. They must be able to easily accommodate emerging technologies and services.