TMN applied to an integrated management system for DoD communications networks using military and commercial satellites

The integrated management of DoD communications networks and services on military and commercial satellites remains a major challenge in today's open multivendor, multitechnology environment. The application of ITU-T standards for communications management, known as telecommunications management network (TMN) may prove to solve this challenge. This paper provides an overview of the TMN concepts and presents an architecture based on TMN principles for the integrated management of DoD communications on military and commercial satellites. A near-term approach as well as an approach for integrated military satellite communications management in the 21st century are discussed. The paper also provides an overview of the issues and the steps that need to be taken to apply TMN standards to military communications management.