What Is a Fixed-Mobile Convergence?

Fixed mobile convergence technology is a technology that connects voice, unified communications, wired and wireless networks.

Although different organizations have different definitions of FMC, FMC is generally considered to be a combination of previously separate fixed and mobile communications services, networks and business models. In general, fixed services use wired or wireless local ring services, while mobile services use cellular wireless systems, and FMC is leading to the emergence of next-generation converged networks (NGCN). According to the literature [2], different fixed and mobile network convergence levels are:

At present, the general business development of traditional large-scale operators is toward service convergence, multimedia, IP, and diversification. In terms of business convergence, on the one hand, major operators have transformed from traditional telecommunication service providers to "integrated information service providers." On the other hand, the business is centered around the FMC.

New technology makes FMC possible. For example, 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless local area networks (WLANs) have been commercialized in access technology, and Bluetooth and CDMA20001xEV-DO have also been deployed. Therefore, converged terminal equipment will also appear.

The second driving force of FMC is the strategic position of operators. For fixed operators, the growth rate of fixed subscribers lags far behind the growth rate of mobile subscribers, and the revenue from mobile services also exceeds the revenue from fixed services. With the growth of mobile communications, due to the diversion of fixed network services by mobile networks, the revenue of fixed service operators continues to decrease. Therefore, in order to maintain market share and increase revenue, many fixed network operators are experimenting with converged services. For mobile operators, despite the growing business, mobile operators must also face fierce competition and high customer churn rates. Moreover, mobile data communication services are relatively expensive and service quality is low. For mobile operators, in addition to saving network infrastructure, sales channels and customer service costs, FMC is also an enhancement of business. Therefore, FMC is attractive to both fixed network operators and mobile operators.

User needs are related to mobility, portability, and speed, which also helps drive FMC. Users are not only accustomed to the high speed of the fixed network, but also to the ubiquitous services provided by portable computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The number of users using wireless Internet via mobile phones is also increasing. Users want mobility and the same rate as fixed networks. Therefore, users have a strong demand for FMC.

Deregulation is another important driving force for FMC. For example, in 1998, the Canadian government allowed telecommunications operators to provide a variety of fixed and mobile convergence services. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also allows local exchange operators to provide converged services. Although it is too early to completely deregulate FMC, deregulation is being implemented in many countries. ^[1]

Chinese operators are also actively promoting FMS technology trials. From the perspective of domestic operators' FMS commercial trials and deployment, China Mobile R & D Center conducted the first phase of FMS in November 2005 with Lucent, Ericsson, Siemens and other equipment manufacturers. Laboratory testing, and began testing the "FMS Business Experience Environment" in January 2006. This test is a prelude to the full deployment of FMS in China. China Mobile is conducting FMS business tests at 10 pilot sites in 10 provinces across the country, including Chongqing, Zhejiang, Guangdong and other provinces. China Unicom does not currently have a commercial FMS, but China Unicom built a unified network platform (UNINET) in 2003 to provide NGN services. It hopes to build a unified architecture between mobile and fixed networks to achieve network unification. In mid-November 2007, China Unicom's FMS technical test project acceptance meeting was held in Guangzhou. The acceptance expert group reviewed the implementation of the projects undertaken by Chongqing Unicom, Shanghai Unicom, and Guangzhou Unicom, as well as related technical reports and financial accounts reports. The overall progress and quality met the requirements, and the tests achieved the expected goals. China Unicom's FMS technology experimental project has enhanced its technical reserves and operation and maintenance experience in 3G and NGN, and its achievements in engineering practice and theoretical research have important reference values, from services, equipment, billing, network management and Various aspects of the interface tested the entire set of FMS products of the three equipment manufacturers. China Netcom used Ericsson's technology to launch a commercial IPCentrex service based on FMS architecture for enterprise customers in Beijing in April 2007.
2008 will be the foundation year for China's FMS. During the Beijing Olympics in August, China Netcom's FMS network showed great power. The Olympic same-network communication service partner China Netcom has established an IP Multimedia Subsystem (FMS) network, enabling the Beijing Olympic Games to comprehensively use various terminals and multimedia means on the same platform to achieve integrated and efficient monitoring and management. China Netcom uses FMS technology to build Olympic command and communication support systems to serve six Olympic cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Qingdao, and Shanghai, in order to provide comprehensive multimedia business guarantees such as voice, data, audio, and video during the Olympic Games Tasks, while also meeting the needs of IP multimedia applications for local high-end enterprise customers. In Mainland China, this is the first commercial FMS network in use, and it is the first time FMS has been used in the history of the Olympic Games. ^[2]

In South Korea, the mobile communications market is developing rapidly. In 1999, South Korean mobile users surpassed fixed users. The fixed voice business has also decreased sharply. From 2000 to 2002, the fixed voice service decreased by 5.6%, and the mobile service increased by 30.6%. This situation in South Korea has forced fixed-line operators to seek new points of business growth. Mobile service providers also recognize the need to use wired facilities to improve speed and provide more value-added services. As a result, FMC became very active. Examples of FMC in South Korea include:

As early as two years ago, Verizon, the largest FMC operating company in the United States, began to sell a bundled service that allows users to combine mobile and fixed voice services and discount their phone bills. Subsequently, the company successfully included broadband access and other services into its bundled services.
Cingular Corporation of the United States launched a business called FastForward in 2004. When users are at home, as long as the mobile phone is plugged into the charger, the phone call will be automatically transferred to the fixed phone, so that the use of the Business users, not only have good call quality, but also cheap.
Recently, BT will launch an integrated service-Bluephone, which has built-in Bluetooth technology. When users are at home, this short-range wireless technology will connect the phone to BT's fixed network.

Danish TDC Telecom launched a service called Duet, which allows users' fixed and mobile phones to share a phone number, a bill, and a voice mail. When the user's Duet number is called, the incoming call is first received by the mobile phone. If the phone is turned off, the ringtone of the fixed phone in his home will ring. If no one answers, he will go to the voice mail to leave a message. And users only need to pay one phone bill.
In May 2004, British Telecom Group announced that it would cooperate with Vodafone to transmit phone calls made by users at home or in the office through a fixed line network.
Telstra intends to bundle Voice over IP (VOIP) services with digital subscriber line (DSL) services, and develop FMC next.

France Telecom's Orange mobile subsidiaries, Singapore Telecom, Korea Telecom, and Brazil Telecom are actively preparing to launch a series of fixed and mobile integration services.

In June 2004, BT, Swisscom, Telstra, Japan's NTTDoCoMo and Korea Telecom formed a fixed / mobile phone alliance to ensure that their networks are compatible with each other and to promote the development of FMC products by suppliers. ^[1]