[Skip to Content](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c10.xhtml#main) [](https://learning.oreilly.com/home/) - Explore Skills - Start Learning - Featured [Answers](https://learning.oreilly.com/answers2/) Search for books, courses, events, and more # 10 Conclusions This book has focused on the quality of service for fixed and mobile ultra‐broadband, including technologies, regulation, and business aspects. The QoS has been mandatory for traditional telecommunication services such as telephony (voice) and television since the first half of the last century; however, with the convergence of telecommunication networks and services onto Internet technologies, QoS provision remains a significant challenge for all ICT services, not only for traditional ones. Therefore the ITU and other regional organizations (e.g. organizations of regulators) are involved in activities for QoS regulation in all regions of the world, besides the standardized approaches for QoS provisioning in Internet‐based environments which are done by different SDOs, including the ITU for global standardization and harmonization of telecommunications/ICTs, the IETF for Internet technologies from the network layer up to the application layer, the IEEE for Ethernet, WiFi, etc., 3GPP for broadband mobile networks (2G–5G and beyond), and others. The introduction to this book, given with [Chapter 1](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c01.xhtml), aimed to provide information regarding the convergence of the telecom and Internet worlds which is being realized in the first two decades of the twenty‐first century, and which is expected to continue toward an all‐IP world. However, the traditional telecom world is based on strict end‐to‐end QoS provisioning, such as QoS in telephone networks for voice services (including fixed PSTN as well as PLMN such as GSM), broadcast networks for TV, and leased lines for business users. Meanwhile, the Internet was developed from the beginning for the best‐effort services (i.e. each IP network does its best effort to transfer the IP packets through it) and it is network neutral by nature (e.g. no differentiation of IP packets by ISPs regarding the source or destination address, application, or type of content carried by the packets). The Internet and Internet technologies won the packet‐switching technology battle in the 1990s (e.g. with ATM, as Internet major competitor from the European side – the European Telecommunications Standards Institute). So, from the end of the 1990s, and especially from the beginning of this century, it was recognized by all SDOs that the telecommunications (i.e. ICT) world and the native Internet world would converge toward the Internet technologies in both main aspects, networking and services. However, the approaches from both sides have merged, and this included QoS support as the main contribution and requirement from the telecom side (e.g. for real‐time services, such as voice and TV) to influence the initially best‐effort and network neutral Internet. Meanwhile, the convergence of all telecommunication services onto the Internet (including video, the most demanding service regarding bitrates, i.e. bandwidth) started to happen with the development of broadband access to the IP‐based networks and provision of IP‐based services (via such broadband access). Since the ICT world is transiting toward the Internet technologies, [Chapter 2](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c02.xhtml) was dedicated to Internet QoS. With the aim of having a standalone book, an overview of the main Internet technologies was given, including the main standardized protocols from the network layer up to the application layer (e.g. IP, IPv6, TCP, UDP, DHCP, DNS, HTTP, and email protocols), as well as fundamental Internet network architectures and networking approaches (client‐server, and peer‐to‐peer). Further, to consider QoS issues for the Internet, the chapter discussed Internet traffic characterization, including voice, video, and data traffic. To provide QoS to different traffic types (where it is required), different QoS solutions on different protocol layers were given, from the data‐link layer up to the application layer (going from the bottom to the top of the protocol stack). Further, [Chapter 2](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c02.xhtml) continued with different traffic management techniques nowadays, including packet prioritization and bandwidth allocation, as well as a description of relations between traffic management and network capacity, including positive and negative effects. The main SDO on the global scale is the ITU as the largest agency for ICTs; on the other side the main Internet technologies from the network layer (i.e. OSI layer 3) up to the application layer are being standardized by the IETF. Therefore, [Chapter 2](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c02.xhtml) gave a comparison of the IETF QoS framework (standardized solutions) and the ITU QoS framework. Further, it covered IETF standardized QoS solutions from the 1990s, such as DiffServ and IntServ, which are not implemented as such nowadays but influenced the different QoS approaches used today. The chapter further covered MPLS, which is the well proven QoS approach for core and transport networks, as well as DPI techniques related to QoS. Finally, the chapter showed a basic inter‐provider QoS model (e.g. the ITU viewpoint) as well as IP network architectures for end‐to‐end QoS provisioning. The telecommunication world's transition to an all‐IP world for traditional services is well defined with the ITU's next generation networks umbrella of recommendations, covered in [Chapter 3](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c03.xhtml). The NGN in fact has copied the major Internet design philosophy, with separation of applications/services on the top from the underlying transport technologies (including access, core, and transport networks) at the bottom, by defining two main stratums: the service stratum and the transport stratum. The NGN was initially primarily targeted to transition of traditional telecommunication services (PSTN voice to VoIP and TV to IPTV) over IP networks end‐to‐end with QoS guarantees (similar to traditional telecommunication networks). That requires standardized signaling and control technologies. For that purpose the NGN has not re‐invented the wheel but has used well standardized protocols for signaling, such as SIP and Diameter, put into a well defined IP multimedia subsystem (standardized by 3GPP). QoS end‐to‐end provisioning is directly related to standardized signaling, as well as to standardized functions between the two NGN stratums, where the main role is given to the resource and admission control function, which can be used in different transport environments in access, core, and transport networks (e.g. Ethernet access, MPLS for transport networks). However, the NGN is also targeted to standardized deployment of the Internet of Things, and has defined application interfaces for all services that require the service stratum functions of the NGN. Besides QoS functions in the NGN, [Chapter 3](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c03.xhtml) included standardized management for performance measurement in the NGN, as well as recently defined DPI performance models and metrics. Further, it gave a view into the future networks, as an evolution of the NGN, toward network virtualization. Finally, the chapter discussed business and regulatory aspects of the NGN and future networks. The convergence onto the Internet as a single networking platform for all services is possible only with development of broadband access to the Internet, including fixed access and mobile access networks. Although broadband is a relative terminology with respect to the bitrates which provide seamless access to all existing applications and services at the present time, the term ultra‐broadband is used (e.g. in many national broadband strategies for 2020 and beyond) to point to higher bitrates than the existing broadband worldwide. While the existing broadband access (on average) is in the range of Mbit/s/user to tens of Mbit/s per user, ultra‐broadband access is targeted to bitrates in the range of 100 Mbit/s to Gbit/s per user. In that manner, [Chapter 4](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c04.xhtml) focused on fixed ultra‐broadband, while [Chapter 5](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c05.xhtml) targeted mobile ultra‐broadband technologies. [Chapter 4](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c04.xhtml) covered the very high speed (i.e. ultra‐broadband) technologies over copper (e.g. VDSL, cable access with DOCSIS 3.x) and fiber (e.g. next generation passive optical network standards, and active WDM optical access), including QoS approaches in the given access networks. Also, the [chapter 4](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c04.xhtml) included QoS defined for Ethernet and Carrier Ethernet. Finally, different access networks are connected to core networks, core networks are connected to transport networks, and transport networks are interconnected, so the “holy grail” of QoS is end‐to‐end QoS network provisioning, which is also covered in that chapter. [Chapter 4](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c04.xhtml) ended with strategic aspects for ultra‐broadband deployment, which refer to both developed and developing countries around the world. [Chapter 5](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c05.xhtml) was focused on QoS technologies in the mobile ultra‐broadband access network, including the most recent mobile standards, such as LTE‐Advanced‐Pro, as well as near future mobile technologies, such as 5G. Mobile broadband in the 2010s is typically represented by 3.5G (mainly UMTS/HSPA) and 4G (mainly LTE/LTE‐Advanced) technologies, which in many developing countries around the world are in fact the only way to access the Internet with broadband or ultra‐broadband speeds due to lack of physical network access infrastructures. Mobile communications are more personal than fixed ones (e.g. a fixed access is typically shared by many users at home, office, or public place, typically by using NAT translation between individual private IP addresses and the public IP address of the given connection toward the global Internet). So, mobile ultra‐broadband is even more important than fixed access (although fixed access can always provide more bit/s because there is always the possibility to add another cable where it is needed, something that is not feasible in mobile networks due to limited and scarce radio spectrum that is usable for non‐line‐of‐sight communication, e.g. the spectrum below 6 GHz). The IEEE 802.11 standards are targeted to gigabit rates (although these are aggregate bitrates for high‐end WiFi equipment), such as IEEE 802.11ac, besides the well deployed IEEE 802.11n (regarding the WiFi physical layer). [Chapter 5](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c05.xhtml) also covered the QoS in giga speed WiFi, as well as considerations regarding competition from LTE/LTE‐Advanced in unlicensed bands on 2.4 GHz. Further, the chapter covered the ITU umbrella for 5G, named IMT‐2020, as well as QoS for 5G mobile standards by 3GPP. The future mobile networks are expected to have many small cells (e.g. femto cells) for increase in capacity and stability of bitrates (and hence higher QoS and QoE), which however have to be coupled with QoS mechanisms in the mobile core networks. Finally, [Chapter 5](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c05.xhtml) provided business and regulation aspects for mobile ultra‐broadband. Both fixed and mobile networks are deployed to carry services and user data to and from end‐users (human users and machines or things). [Chapter 6](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c06.xhtml) offered the QoS vision for services provided over ultra‐broadband fixed and mobile networks. Such services include real‐time ones, with QoS guarantees end‐to‐end, such as QoS‐enabled VoIP services, including VoIP over LTE networks (and over 5G mobile networks) as well as QoS‐enabled IPTV (e.g. multicast of linear TV with E‐MBMS (enhanced multimedia broadcast multicast services) and beyond) and unicast video streaming services. The [chapter 6](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c06.xhtml) considered QoS Internet access services, which directly impact OTT services, also called data services (by telecom operators and regulators), which include standardized services/applications such as the Web, email, etc., as well as proprietary OTT services/applications such as YouTube, Skype, Viber, Facebook, Twitter, BitTorrent, cloud services, and many others in different application ecosystems. This chapter included QoS for IoT services, including massive IoT (provided over public Internet access) and critical IoT (provided over managed IP networks with ultra‐reliable low‐latency communications), as well as cloud computing services (OTT and telco cloud services) with their QoS requirements and metrics. Finally, [Chapter 6](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c06.xhtml) covered business and regulatory challenges for services over ultra‐broadband. The next chapter outlined QoS parameters, key performance indicators and measurement approaches for different services. It first discussed QoS, QoE, and application needs, and also defined generic and service specific QoS parameters. End‐to‐end QoS provisioning is directly dependent upon the interconnection and mapping the QoS parameters from one telecom operator to another one. However, only a subset of many defined QoS parameters is important to end‐users, and hence to operators and regulators, and such selected QoS parameters are called KPIs. In that regard, [Chapter 7](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c07.xhtml) covered KPIs for real‐time services (e.g. voice, IPTV), KPIs for data services (i.e. for IAS), and VPNs, as well as KPIs for smart sustainable city services. The chapter covered broadband QoS measurement frameworks, as well as assessment methodologies (including objective and subjective assessment). Further, it gave a view into available quality measurement tools and platforms such as M‐Lab, RIPE Atlas, and SamKnows. [Chapter 8](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c08.xhtml) focused on network neutrality, which refers to open Internet access, also known as IAS. Network neutrality itself was invented with the Internet; however, with the convergence of all telecommunication services onto the Internet, the whole “story” has become more complex. So, telecom operators nowadays offer different services with QoS guarantees (e.g. VoIP as PSTN/ISDN replacement, IPTV as linear TV) over managed IP networks which are only virtually separated from the network‐neutral Internet traffic (also referred to today as OTT or data traffic). [Chapter 8](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c08.xhtml) covered possible degradations to network neutrality by telecom operators, the main regulatory goals and the business aspects of network neutrality, the role of regulators (i.e. NRAs), as well as network neutrality approaches in Europe and the U.S. as leading regions in this regard. Further, this chapter discussed challenges and enforcement approaches for network neutrality. [Chapter 9](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c09.xhtml) covered the QoS regulation framework. It included the scope of QoS regulation and its fundamentals, as well as the ITU's QoS regulation guidelines. The end‐user QoS is established via a service level agreement, which may include different QoS parameters. Further, the chapter looked at approaches and guidelines for specifying parameters, levels, and measurement methods within a given QoS regulatory framework, as well as approaches for definition of KPIs for fixed and mobile services and their measurements on a periodical basis. This chapter further discussed relations between QoS and the pricing of services as well as customers' willingness to pay for services because QoS is also related to pricing (e.g. higher QoS may lead to higher price for services, or the same price for services but with a lower profit margin), which directly impacts telecom operators' business. Finally, there are many cases where legislation regarding QoS exists but it is not implemented in practice on a satisfactory level by the national telecom operators. For such cases, this chapter included QoS enforcement approaches, which can go from naming and shaming to more drastic financial penalties in the case of continuous degradation of certain KPIs for certain services. In that manner, [Chapter 9](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c09.xhtml) included various QoS enforcement approaches, applicable to different regions around the globe. The last chapter of the book, this one, gives the main conclusions regarding QoS for fixed and mobile ultra‐broadband. Overall, this book provides all‐round coverage for QoS for fixed and mobile ultra‐broadband, including technologies, business, and regulation aspects, and also covers the basis for QoS deployments such as Internet technologies (as defined by the IETF), NGN (as defined by the ITU), fixed ultra‐broadband (as defined by the ITU and the IEEE), and mobile ultra‐broadband (as defined by the 3GPP and the ITU), for various services (standardized and OTT), including network neutrality aspects for the public Internet (as defined in Europe and the U.S.) and the QoS regulation framework and guidelines (as defined by the ITU). Finally, the book is targeted at a widely diverse readership, ranging from students and professors/tutors at universities and training centers, via engineers, managers, and employees in the industry, telecom operators, service providers, toward ICT business readers, telecommunications regulators, ICT administrations, and all interested parties from companies and institutions which need capacity building in the area of QoS for fixed and mobile ultra‐broadband, including technology, business, and regulation aspects. table of contents search Settings [9 QoS Regulatory Framework](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/c09.xhtml) 10 Conclusions queue QoS for Fixed and Mobile Ultra-Broadband [Index](https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/qos-for-fixed/9781119470502/b01.xhtml)