In order to achieve the goals set out
in the charter the work really needs to be broken down into a number of key tasks,
each building on the other. The following covers the most salient points. Task
1. Identification of future trends in networks, services and applications.
In
covering technology, commercial and economic drivers this should embrace network
convergence, and standardisation activities that may impact on IP numbering and addressing.
Ideally
it requires co-operation with a variety of international fora which focus on the
development and exploitation of new technologies and companies at the forefront of
new technology. The scope needs to include:
· The growth of new services
and applications fuelled by the widespread introduction of ADSL and cable modems
in access networks.
· Future demands from IP Cellular (GPRS/UMTS).
· Globalisation
of telecoms networks
· Growth of the Internet.
· The projected growth of VoIP
services and the migration of traditional data services towards IP based infrastructure
· The growth of software based products.
Task 2. Identification of any
new service and application characteristics that may not be accomplished through
the existing application independent architecture for IP routeing and addressing
structures.
This work would need to be undertaken with the co-operation of those
parties who have a detailed understanding of existing IP routeing and addressing
structures. If it should appear that additional functionality may be required it
would need to be flagged to the appropriate technical forums who are responsible
for the architectural aspects of IP based networks, for their consideration.
Task
3. An assessment of the likely impact resulting from task 1 on the administration
of current and future IP address space.
This task needs to be tackled with the
co-operation and support of the Regional Internet Registries and must take full account
of the projected growth of all new services and applications.
Task 4. Identification
of key addressing requirements and trends that may impact on global policy formation
and the likely impact.
Its essential that global policy formation should take
full account of new demands that are likely to appear at an ever increasing pace.
Potential problems need to be clearly articulated so that policy formation is able
to pick up on key issues at a very early stage.
Again such a task needs to be tackled
with the co-operation and support of the Regional Internet Registries and ISPs, particularly
those that operate in a global environment.
Although this list appears very challenging
I believe that most of those who need to be involved are already in the loop. I'm
also aware that efforts are already underway to provide some initial input on the
first task, so I'd propose that this is where the focus should be to start with.
Finally
its proposed that the timetable needs to be reviewed due to the delay in launching
this activity. Some activities are already over 3 months behind schedule. The timeframe
set out was already very demanding if the goals set are to be achieved in a comprehensive
manner. Obviously this must be an issue for ICANN to look at.