Solutions for service deployment in the edge of the network

Starting from an analysis of current trends in the telecommunications environment and of new service deployment requirements, this paper describes a number of solutions to enable flexible introduction of value added services in the edge of the network. The focus is on newly emerging services in the IP world, such as various types of remote access services and IP-based VPNs. The paper describes a set of architectural approaches which help network operators move from offering mere network-level functionality (bit-transport) towards full-service solutions with added value for the end-user. Two topics are discussed in more detail: (a) the introduction of application servers in an access provider's point of presence (POP), and (b) the deployment of service intelligence on the user terminal. Next, these approaches are illustrated in a service select scenario, demonstrating their added value in delivering services to the end-user. Finally the paper summarizes the most important findings and suggests remaining topics for future work.