This will be something to keep an eye on as companies introduce their UFB products. Does your provider use Network Based services vs CPE based services? What is the difference between the two?
*Network-based services make sense. For small numbers of simple services that do not require interworking between one another, the CPE-based approach is adequate. However, as the number, sophistication, and degree of interworking between services increases, network-based approaches hold a number of important advantages. For example, network-based approaches provide more efficiency and scalability than CPE based approaches. With CPE-based approaches, the CPE will need to become more sophisticated (and therefore, more expensive) to keep up with the demands of more advanced applications. Network-based solutions allow for shared resources and economies of scale to meet these demands. Secondly, it is more difficult to support service and user mobility with CPE-based approaches. If users want to access their services from a different location, they will need to bring their CPE with them or download software at the new location, wasting time and network resources. With network-based services, users can authenticate themselves from wherever they are and gain access to their complete suite of services. Finally, customer care, billing, configuration management, provisioning, and other management concerns are more easily handled with network-based solutions. History has shown that most end users quickly tire of loading applications themselves, keeping their software and hardware up to date, and troubleshooting when problems arise. Some like to “tinker”, and see this as a hobby, but most would prefer to get on with more meaningful activities by “outsourcing” these tedious duties to someone else.
*J. C. Crim -Telcordia Technologies / Next Generation Networks - http://www.mobilein.com/NGN_Svcs_WP.pdf
WxC has one of the most advanced network integrated Telco-grade IP core platforms and management tools in New Zealand. WxC's NGN (Next Generation Network) has been designed and built entirely in-house and is the result of working closely with original equipment manufacturers of each of the network elements. By taking this integrated approach WxC has created a standards based, carrier grade network with robust architecture that will evolve with new technologies and services as they become available.