ETSI launches fixed network group – but why?

ETSI also notes that the F5G will be looking at "a wide range of technologies, and therefore seeks to actively cooperate with a number of relevant standardization groups as well as vertical industrial organizations," noting in an emailed response to questions that the "ITU-T, IEEE, TM Forum, IEEE, IETF, CCSA [China Communications Standards Association] and Broadband Forum" are the main potential collaborators identified, as well as the 3GPP and other ETSI groups.

But the question is: What value does this ETSI group bring to the fixed line, fiber and broadband ecosystem? What is it doing that isn't already being done by other groups, in particular the Broadband Forum?

ETSI believes it is adding value: "Performing a gap analysis to identify potential enhancements to existing specifications (of any of the relevant SDOs) and development of new specifications," was the response that stood out, while "exploring relevant F5G scenarios and use cases including home, business and multiple vertical industries" and "studying the overall framework, outlining the complete F5G technology landscape" were also cited as differentiators.

Whether that's enough to meet the needs of the market and deliver value to the market will, ultimately, be decided by the market and the members, which at launch include two of the main Chinese national operators as well as Italy's TIM, Turk Telekom, Bouygues Telecom, Altice Portugal, a few other operators and members of the vendor community (including Huawei). If the group attracts other big name members then it will be doing the right things.

(For the record, the list of initial members is: Association eG4U, Altice Portugal, Bouygues Telecom, BTC, Cadzow Communications, CAICT, CATT, China Unicom, China Telecommunications, CICT, ECO, Fraunhofer HHI, Futurewei, Huawei Technologies, JSPRC Kryptonite, POST Luxembourg, Rostelecom, TIM and Turk Telekomunikasyon.)

Initial member representatives gather in Sophia Antipolis, France, on February 21 for the F5G ISG 'kick off' meeting.

ETSI has a track record in forming important industry development groups and identifying emerging areas of the sector that require close analysis – it was at the forefront of NFV developments and recently formed the Securing Artificial Intelligence group, a move described by one seasoned analyst as an "exceptionally important specification group." (See BT, NCSC, Huawei take lead roles at ETSI's AI security specs group and ETSI Tackles AI Security.)

But do we need an ISG on fixed networks? The jury's out…

— Ray Le Maistre, Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading, special to Broadband World News