As described in the ITU Strategy and Policy Unit Newslog of 6 May 2004, "Work on next generation network (NGN) standards has found a home at ITU following intense industry debate...

"The fundamental difference between NGN and today's network is the switch from current 'circuit-switched' networks to 'packet-based' systems such as those using Internet Protocol (IP). The need for global standards is critical as most operators expect to move to an IP infrastructure. One area to be addressed is the concept dubbed 'nomadicity', which will give fixed line and mobile users completely seamless communication. Simply put this means the underlying technology will be invisible to the user regardless of a multi-service, multi-protocol, multi-vendor environment....

"The ITU-T Focus Group concept is a means to move quickly to meet urgent needs such as this, and consolidate work under the umbrella of one entity. In addition to allowing for 'nomadicity', other objectives of the Focus Group will be to develop specifications in the areas of Quality of Service in DSL, authentication, security and signalling."

Some critics say this initiative damages the "end-to-end" design of the Internet because the communications infrastructure is no longer simple and instead is aware of the types of data flowing over it.

Other critics complain that the standards are being developed in a non-transparent way.

As depicted in the Newslog, "NGN will offer a richer set of applications to the end user. The work of the new group will build on existing fixed/mobile convergence architecture (eg 3GPP/3GPP2 IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)) to provide transparency between fixed and mobile networks....

"Leading industry players have long sought an efficient body for the development of standards that will define services, network and systems architecture in the next generation of IP enabled communication systems. ITU was seen by all - operators and manufacturers alike - as the most flexible and efficient platform for the work."

While self-congratulatory, this account aptly notes the inceasing credibility of the ITU to make Net infrastructure policy in a fast, flexible manner.