Impact of Fixed-Mobile Convergence

Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) is a very trendy concept as it promises integration of the previously separated fixed access network and the mobile network. From this novel approach telecommunication operators expect significant cost savings and performance improvements. FMC can be separated into structural convergence (regarding the infrastructure) and functional convergence (regarding the necessary functionalities required in fixed and mobile networks). The latter one goes hand-in-hand with Network Function Virtualization (NFV), where important network functions are provided by a server inside of the next generation point-of-presence (NG-POP). In this article implications on the system architecture as well as structural and functional convergence topics will be discussed.