SERVICE NET-2000 - AN INTELLIGENT NETWORK EVOLUTION

Rapid technological changes in the computing and telecommunications industries are expanding customer expectations and service requirements for the public network. Meeting these needs will require several major changes in the network, notably in the areas of high-bandwidth services, faster service-provisioning times (i.e., improved operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning), and increased network intelligence. In this paper, we describe how AT&T Network Systems plans to use Service Net-2000 to support these changes. The Service Net-2000 architecture will integrate high-capacity switching and data-networking elements with synchronous optical network (SONET) transmission elements under a unified, customer-oriented, common control structure. Because it is evolving directly from today's 5ESS(R) switch, Service Net-2000 will incorporate all the capabilities of today's real-world intelligent network. By using intelligent network adjuncts, service circuit nodes, and service control points within this architecture, we will be able to offer a broad range of services faster and easier than we can today. These concepts form the basis for future service offerings that will create a more responsive, service-rich public network ready to meet the information movement needs of end users.