A Comprehensive Report on Network Convergence in Computer Networks

This report provides a comprehensive overview of network convergence in computer technologies. It begins by defining network convergence as the integration of various communication services (telephone, video, and data) under a single network, primarily to offer better services at lower costs. The report explores the evolution from mono-networks to converged networks, emphasizing the impact of technologies like VoIP and the challenges related to bandwidth sharing. It discusses different types of network convergence, including telecommunication, network, and market convergence. The report highlights the advantages of converged networks, such as scalability, flexibility, and simplified data management, while also addressing the challenges, including redundancies, bandwidth barriers, and the need for standardized infrastructure. The report also examines the future of network convergence, particularly with the evolution of 5G networks, and concludes by emphasizing the transformative impact of converged networks on business processes and client requirements, supported by relevant references.

Convergence in Computer Network Technologies
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Abstract
Network convergence can expressed as the easy provision of telephone, video and all data related
communication services under one umbrella – the network which is converged together. The primary
reason for converging networks is to offer better services at lower cost to the customers. Preferably
network convergence provide the service providers a choice to choose and adopt new models for business
enterprises taking note of new innovations of services and entry into new markets. In other words,
network convergence can be summarized as a blend of internet, telecommunication, and broadcasting IT
infrastructure services.
In converged network environment, several unique and important information can be reformed and re-
constructed/ re-engineered to make it simpler and better for the clients. In recent past before evolution of
network convergence, data transformation was limited to two way mantra. That is, send and receive of
text messages and data. However, in the present, a telephone network can send and receive data. In
addition, a cable network is capable of supplying voice.
Introduction
Network convergence denotes to the existence of more than one networks within a single network. That is
to say, having three networks under a single network. The three networks could be a telephone network,
data communication and video transmission (Liu & Zhang, 2018).
In comeback to the first and steady growing client demands, convergence networking has become the
backbone of all digital internet activities. VoIP, web surfing, audio conferencing, quality testing and e-
commerce all deploy network convergence so as they engage with various business groups and the public.
This term is also known as triple pay or media convergence.
By means of all the requirements and demands of clients, network convergence is posing a challenge to
developers and network engineers. The huge most challenge being bandwidth sharing. During the
exchange of data by consumers, the network becomes overwhelmed. To run away from this, it is
imperative that the network be designed in a professional way. That is, installation of appropriate
hardware and devices and the network be configured in a good way, possibly on the basis of user-centric
approach.
However, it should be noted that the key goal why business enterprises are craving for network
convergence is saving on IT infrastructure services overhead costs. In fact, lots of business enterprises
have gone for and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) that is integrated with call center and statistical
networks. Many service providers in the market have found good market place for providing these
solutions. In this article, we will discuss network convergence, how it works and how it has affected
business enterprise operations (McClanahan, 2016).
Network convergence is the proliferation of data in a digital form regardless of whether its telephone
type, video type or data type. Therefore, network convergence can be termed as digital convergence.
These are various ways in which data which is digital form is processed and transferred. The economical
knowledge is driven by network converged systems. The systems are embedded universally in the
business processes which help the clients to exchange data, collaborate, store and access data, learn, trade
and communicate in a real time environment. Additionally, digital data can be kept and accessed from a
remote location. This is good idea for mobile workers who may be located in distant locations. The core
player in support of convergence of networking is internet as a service and high network connectivity.
This has led to surge into cloud computing and virtualization of storage services.

The basic need for network convergence is easy information exchange, collaboration and communication.
As mentioned earlier, convergence has led to a rush in virtualization and cloud computing where data in
digital form, infrastructure to compute enabled environment and computational platform are stored in the
cloud. Remember that cloud is outside our walled premises of business enterprises on sharable platform.
Network converge is the present trend in the ubiquitous computing that follows the tune of access of
information anywhere at any given time.
Types of network convergence
- Telecommunication convergence – in a telecommunication convergence, it permits the service
providers to use one single network to offer diverse services for communication. Earlier on, this
required isolated channels for each service of them. This can be termed as a multi-play.
- The second type is network convergence by itself. This convergence allows separate types of
networks to be connected with each other with specific standard protocols.
- The third one is market convergence. This will fundamentally help in the stimulation of mergers,
collaborations, and takeovers amongst corporations. These days the primary benefit of such type
of networks is to help clients to enjoy the fun of using fresh devices and technologies which could
be used in sharing of photos, interactive television, video on demand and use of new PDAs
(Joseph & Mulugu, 2013).
Services affected by network convergence
It is clear that network convergence does not occur in a bubble since it enables a lot of technologies to
have an interaction and communicate to one another. Field of broadcasting and media has benefitted from
network convergence. This is because network convergence has been able to offer video streaming, video
conference and webcasting. Conceivably where major revolution has been experienced powered by
network convergence is the internet and how clients use it for online shopping, banking, collaboration,
gaming, and e-mail (Umar & Moyer, 2011).
A comparison of converged networks and mono-networks
It is noted that network convergence has conveyed about the development of mono-networks. The mono-
network is developed during process of converging when some networks together with their infrastructure
are taken in the process, but other networks are not regarded which once they were part of the entire
system. Paying attention to one network, and disregarding the requirements of the remaining needs leads
into discrepancy. This must be considered when having a thought about network convergence. A
converged network will offer options for the clients whereas a mono-network will not. Furthermore, a
converged network considers the ability for every network to utilize the similar infrastructure and
equipment.
Advantages of network convergence
The converged network concept is moving the current market into a new globe of technology. Such
systems offer scalability and flexibility in how customers use their services, offering business enterprises
and clients new ways of interacting with their technology. As if this not enough, converged networks
provide smooth and seamless platform in which system or network operators can move back and forth
amongst those services with no barrier hindrances (Vinod Joseph, 2013).
Mobile phones provide a god example of such kind of convergence. The owners have access to media,
video conferencing, streaming and telecommunications simultaneously. Ellis talks about the remarkable
migration in 2006 around mobile phones and how they have grown for clients to access news, stream

videos and embrace navigation. He further notes that network convergence capability has unlocked
entertainment for clients in ways which have not been seen before.
More so, network convergence provides IT administrators/specialists, who manage and operate networks
in a skilled setting, a simplistic manner to manage data information by reduction of systems which they
are supposed to interact with on consistent basis. A converged system network can support higher
utilization of resources within a business enterprise and bringing down power consumption (Ellis, et al.,
2015).
Challenges faced by network convergence
Despite the fact that network convergence has received a warm welcome into technological world, it is
still facing some challenges and all has not be a straight smooth path. The challenges are as a result of the
continued learning about the capability of a networking system and their capability to generate new
options (Iniewski, 2011). Some of the challenges include and are not limited to:
- Redundancies
- Present bandwidth barriers
- Cost to clients and business enterprises
- Shifting to converged networks creates potential risks to business enterprises in an event of
disruption and may leave users with nothing to utilize.
- Standards and infrastructure to implement converged network systems are limited, hence slowing
down the convergence process.
- Storage becomes something integrated, this opens problems for storage management.
Supplementary challenges to corporate and technological convergence trends, besides enfeeblement of
meaning due to potentially splintering and multiplicity of sources.
Future of network convergence
In the spirit of continued development of next generation of network service and mobile services, experts
continue to be exposed to better practices and get idea of what is to come. Iniewski speaks about
importance of clients use the technology and it is imperative to observe the interaction of technology and
human being as they converge and change. He exclaims that network convergence is an area of impact
and has to be dived in deeper. The understanding of people’s networks and how they bridge to one
another technologically by use of networks should be the way forward (Hanrahan, 2017).
Though possibilities seem to be limiting, every rollout of a new technology uncovers new phase of
network capabilities that are possible with converged networks. Converged networks are game changers
to everything in essential way. It is noted that converged networks are impacting people in deeper manner
each day.
Carriers have worked hard over the past years following their respective technology routes that will
ultimately result to a convergence amongst network which will improve quality in overall. This has seen
switching cell phones amongst carriers infinitely easy. This type of convergence has been seen coming to
fruition (Iniewski, 2011).
Network Convergence trends
With continued evolution of 5G networks, entertainment will become more ambient to users. We
continue dipping in and out of entertainment flows. This engages in offerings which are contextually
always available and relevant.

The next wireless network architecture development densification has seen the evolution of convergence
of the physical assets of fixed wireless access points and networks. A good example is North America
where the LTE coverage is widely spread. The Wi-Fi coverage is complete for all the intended purposes.
This issue has led to consumer demand for bandwidth increase. This has been done through more
spectrum, and better modulation techniques. This significantly creates more bandwidth per square meter.
The promise of the fixed 5G wireless network in a millimeter wave and 6GHz range creates extended
spectrum and bandwidth (Prasad, 2010).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the interne has helped convergence of communication techniques where audio video, and
data have been all accessible using a single medium. The converging networking has been therefore an
emerging technology. Converged networking entails a number of aspects all of which lead to aggregation
of networking activities. These aspects include, the application convergence, devices convergence,
technology convergence, protocol convergence, payload convergence and physical convergence. This this
have taken the course they have taken only to summarize the internetworking basics.
The network convergence has produced a reflective influence to the network service model. It has
promoted the expansion, refinement and extension of network as service and innovation of the industrial
practice. In the meantime, it has made network show the diversified biological and subdivision systematic
features. Client requirements have also been changing in the direction of diversification and
personalization.
The convergent networks are with us to stay and take business processes to the next level. This is because
it does not only favor the large firms who have huge budgets, but also small medium enterprise
companies.

References
Ellis, J., Pursell, . & Rahman, ., 2015. Voice, Video, and Data Network Convergence. 3rd ed. Amsterdam:
Elsevier.
Hanrahan, H., 2017. Network Convergence: Services, Applications, Transport, and Operations Support.
4th ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Iniewski, K., 2011. Convergence of Mobile and Stationary Next-Generation Networks. 3rd ed. Hoboken:
John Wiley & Sons.
Iniewski, K., 2011. Convergence of Mobile and Stationary Next-Generation Networks. 5th ed. Hoboken:
John Wiley & Sons.
Joseph, V. & Mulugu, S., 2013. Network Convergence: Ethernet Applications and Next Generation
Packet. 4th ed. Boston: Newnes.
Liu, X. & Zhang, J., 2018. Evaluation of network service model based on network convergence. EURASIP
Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking, IV(12), pp. 67-80.
McClanahan, 2016. SCADA and IP: is network convergence really here. IEEE Xplore Digital Library, 9(2),
pp. 29-36.
Prasad, R., 2010. Future Trends and Challenges for ICT Standardization. 5th ed. Denmark: River
Publishers.
Umar, A. & Moyer, S., 2011. The impact of network convergence on telecommunications software. IEEE
Communications Magazine, 39(1), pp. 78 - 84.
Vinod Joseph, . M., 2013. Network Convergence: Ethernet Applications and Next Generation. 3rd ed.
Boston: Newness.