In a packet-based network like the Internet where everything is just data, the application is abstracted from the network. For example, a telephone network is not a network that just happens to carry voice, it is a network created to carry voice. Therefore, the network is the application. Anything that is not voice, such as dial-up modems, must be transformed to look like voice so the network can use it. But because not all data behaves like voice, this can be inefficient.

In a packet-based network, the application is not the network; it just rides on the network. This makes running multiple applications on the same network far more efficient and allows things, such as voice and video, to use the same network.

The other advantage in separating applications from networks is that it allows applications to come from someone other than the network provider in a way transparent to the user. Using the telephone network example again - to use dial-up Internet access you must first call the number for the ISP and then log on to the ISP. If in the middle of the session you want to make a phone call, you must break the connection to the ISP to make the phone call. You can only re-establish the ISP connection after the phone call is concluded. In a packet-based network, the phone application and the ISP application happily coexist simultaneously. What is more, the ISP application could remain perpetually connected since no data being sent to or from the user so there is no drain on network resources. In a telephone network, a connection means a circuit is in use and unavailable for any other purpose.

Packet-based networks open the door for Open Networks. An Open Network is one in which the network provider is not the only application provider (and perhaps not an application provider at all). The Open Network operator merely charges for connectivity to the network. While this puts a limit on profitability, it also puts a limit on responsibility. It is an excellent model for those who do not want to compete directly with application providers or are primarily interested with ensuring their constituents have access to the widest array of options. The challenge of running an open network is providing consistent and acceptable levels of quality of service across multiple applications. This can be handled by adding intelligence to the network to allow packet prioritization so applications with different needs can efficiently share the same network.

Stratum Broadband is experienced in building and implementing this type of network and can show you the way to make it happen.