What's so important about convergence?

This article addresses the concept of convergence of services (as seen by the customers) and the integration of networks (as seen by the operators). It argues that it is services and not networks that converge! The drivers for convergence and integration are identified, along with the problems involved. There are many areas of convergence and integration, e.g. voice and data, fixed and mobile, IT and telecommunications. It is of course, the users' terminals that provide much of the service convergence and the implications of this are considered. The article concludes by describing the service convergence and network integration opportunities and challenges offered by the so-called next generation networks (NGNs).