Registration for the Commerce Commission's Next Generation Networks conference is open from today.

Early registration is recommended as attendance at the conference, which will be held at the Langham Hotel in Auckland on 26 and 27 February 2009, will be free and places are limited.

The conference, entitled Broadband at the Crossroads: Convergence, NGN and the future, is part of the Commerce Commission's Next Generation Networks (NGN) study. The study aims to facilitate a broad and informed discussion of the potential implications and opportunities of next generation networks.

"To encourage a diversity of interest groups and people to take part in the discussion, the Commission will not be charging a conference attendance fee," said Paula Rebstock, Commerce Commission Chair. "However, early registration of interest in attending is essential, as conference numbers are limited and the number of attendees per organisation will be initially restricted to five."

"The conference is an opportunity to take part in the dialogue about what the future marketplace will look like, the upcoming opportunities and potential constraints that the market will need to address for the benefits of NGN to be realised," said Ms Rebstock.

More information, including how to register, is available on the Commission's website www.comcom.govt.nz under Next Generation Networks Conference.

Background

Next Generation Networks (NGN) is the term used to describe packet-based all IP networks capable of carrying a wide variety of services.

Traditionally, separate networks were needed to deliver broadcasting, data, mobile and fixed telephony services. In a packet-based all IP world, the need for separate networks to deliver these services disappears.

The benefit of the new networks is that they bring together the currently separate worlds of telecommunications, broadcasting and multi-media. They enable many different types of services to be delivered on a single platform or device.

For existing fixed telecommunication networks the transition to NGNs involves the replacement of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and copper based access network with fibre either to the cabinet or the home.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

The switched telephone networks of the major operators, on which calls can be made to all customers of all PSTNs. The Telecommunications Act 2001 defines a PSTN as "a dial-up telephone network used, or intended for use, in whole or in part, by the public for the purposes of providing telecommunication between telephone devices."