Multilink architecture for multiplay services (MARCH)

The trend is for easy, ubiquitous access to advanced broadband services. People want to connect to a broadband network for business and personal use, irrespective of time, terminal and location. The user is no longer a passive consumer but rather an activ e content creator and community builder. The consumed content may be generated in any part of the network. Access to content involves both peer-to-peer usages and centralised service delivery. MARCH will significantly lower the cost of converged broadband service delivery by establishing scalable multilink network architectures. Today's terminals incorporate multiple access technologies, but the strategies for connecting to IP networks generally result in simple selection of one of the available networks. The potential for simultaneously using the available access technologies in a multi-link manner has yet to be exploited. Focus areas are: 1) Multilink network technology Convergence of broadband, mobile, and broadcast services is central in delivering u biquitous and seamless services. The focus is on techniques enabling a multilink architecture whereby terminals operate dynamically over several broadband/broadcast access networks simultaneously. This enhances multi-service provision and improves resourc e utilisation. 2) Modular scalable architecture MARCH will recommend a modular scalable architecture for multilink networks such that networks can be realised at significantly lower cost. Networks have to scale well both allowing initial development with low demand and subsequent flexible growth. 3) Business modelling Actors look for new business models with more comprehensive ownership of customers, combining electronic communication, media provisioning and advertising with deep segmentation and personal ization. MARCH will quantify the change and identify roles and players in the business as well as regulatory framework. Quantitative understanding achieved from techno-economic modelling and case studies.