The demand for more efficient, convenient, and cost effective communications services is on the increase. With regionalisation and globalisation the realities of increased competition in every industry are becoming all the more apparent. Institutions are being compelled to deliver more for less. Communications are a vital element in all verticals, lending to greater efficiencies, which otherwise could not be attained.

The telecommunications world has not been immune to these pressures either. Uganda Telecom fully appreciates the pressures on all businesses, large and small and has proactively embarked on one of Africa’s most ambitious telecommunication initiatives to date. At the heart of this initiative is a dramatic shift in the way the network delivers service. Next Generation Network, describes a network which embraces and exploits the intelligence of IP technology to deliver carrier class services. Instead of having separate networks such as ISDN, ATM, or Plane Old Telephone Services (POTS) delivering their respective voice and data services, all voice, data and even video services are deliver over One network.

The single ubiquitous network allows for flexible service creation because services such as voice become mere applications on the network. In the same way you simply install a word processor or an antivirus application on your computer, likewise is the addition of voice, video, and data services with out any dramatic change to the network or infrastructure. Imagine having one broadband link to your office. Over this single pipe the network would dynamically be able to offer voice services included hosted PABX services, internet, WAN connectivity, firewall solutions, and even TV and video services.  The possibilities of such a network are tremendous.