Konstantina Mourelatou¹, David Griffin², Panos Georgatsos¹, George Mykoniatis³

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have been recognised as a vital means for providing value added services over future ATM-based IBC networks. The multi-operator, multi-provider nature of the deregulated telecommunications market imposes requirements for one-stop shopping, complaining and accounting. The VPN concept aims at meeting these requirements and, moreover, advancing the current telecommunication environment by offering value-added services at a relative low cost and at an enhanced quality compared to the basic services offered by the network operators. In general VPN services are considered as an application of Intelligent Networks (IN).

In this paper we introduce the concept of the Broadband Switched VPN (BX-VPN) as a means for provisioning VPNs on ATM based networks. We present the issues involved with BX-VPN provisioning and operation from the viewpoints of the network operators and the value added service providers (VASPs), with particular emphasis on the management issues. We show how the BX-VPN concept increases the manageability of VPNs, therefore increasing the flexibility in provisioning, reducing redundancy and inefficiency inherent in static configurations. We define the management services necessary for resource management and routing management at both the network operator and the VASP levels.

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