Fiber networks are becoming increasingly central to ICT infrastructure development strategies across the world. The launch of the F5G-Advanced (F5G-A) standard marks a significant milestone in the evolution of next-generation fixed network technology, presenting both opportunities and challenges for the industry. How can standards organizations help foster global consensus? How will the F5G-A standard evolve in the future?
At the joint meeting of ETSI and the China Communications Standards Association (CCSA), C114 sat down with Dr. Olivier Ferveur, Chairman of ETSI ISG F5G, to discuss the latest developments in the F5G-A standard and collaboration among standards organizations.
Key points of the interview:
C114: Why does ETSI develop fixed network generations? What benefits can consensus on these generations bring to the fixed network industry?
Olivier Ferveur: When initially establishing fixed network generation groups in 2020, we discovered that various standards development organizations (SDOs) were working in isolation in the fixed network industry. Some focused on access networks, while others concentrated on transmission networks, often without sufficient cooperation and collaboration.
Things are completely different for the standard industry ecosystem of mobile networks. Under the guidance of ITU and 3GPP, the mobile industry created unified generation systems such as 3G, 4G, and 5G. These generations and underlying technologies are well understood by end users and technicians alike. The fixed network industry also needs similar generation systems and terms, and a unified technical architecture and cooperation platform can bring more benefits to users.
Against this backdrop, we set up the ETSI ISG F5G group as a hub for coordinating between SDOs. Our goal is to jointly define fixed network generations, promote the adoption of existing technologies, and explore new technologies to form a fixed network generation framework and technology system that yields greater benefits for users.
C114: How is the fixed network generation evolution around the world? What are the difficulties in reaching consensus? What key roles does ETSI play in fixed network generations?
Olivier Ferveur: While significant progress has been made in promoting fixed network generations, we still face several hurdles.
First, cooperation and coordination are essential. But in reality, each SDO typically has its own work scope and way of working, making global cooperation a significant challenge.
Language and culture differences can also hinder progress. Variations in language and culture from country to country and team to team require increased communication and understanding.
Fortunately, meetings like the one we had today facilitate mutual understanding and communication, driving the evolution of fixed network generations. ETSI plays a critical role by providing a standardized framework and cooperation platform, which is instrumental in promoting the implementation of F5G-A globally.
C114: What are the latest achievements in fixed network generations by ETSI? What about Release 3?
Olivier Ferveur: Release 3 is a notable achievement by ETSI and also a significant milestone in the evolution of F5G-A. As the first release of F5G-A, it is relatively mature, and will be widely used by carriers. We are actively promoting F5G-A, and are confident it will see large-scale adoption even at this early stage of application.
C114: Has ETSI collaborated with other standards organizations to promote the F5G-A standard and move towards the 10G intelligent era?
Olivier Ferveur: Yes, collaboration is a crucial aspect of our work. Fostering global consensus requires in-depth collaboration between standards organizations. ETSI actively participates in various conferences and forums and closely cooperates with organizations such as CCSA to promote F5G-A. The joint meeting with CCSA marks a significant milestone in cooperation.
Summary:
Through the efforts of ETSI, F5G-A is becoming an important engine driving fixed network evolution. The standard not only upgrades the global fixed network technology, but also provides a clear roadmap for the future development of the ICT industry. Amid in-depth cooperation among standards organizations, F5G-A is expected to see rapid adoption and help the world move towards a more intelligent and greener era that delivers better experience.