TONIC (TechnO-ecoNomICs of IP optimised networks and services) is a project within the IST Programme (Information Society Technologies).
Today's fast evolving society must address basic yet universal needs of citizens and businesses: citizens need jobs, education and entertainment whereas businesses must optimise productivity, increase their customer base and ensure cost-effective training for their workforce. Internet, including mobile IP services, contributes to a growing extent to the satisfaction of the above needs and provides a unique opportunity for sustainable development in both central and rural areas.
Advanced user-friendly IP applications will lead to new ways of consuming and working. Broadband communications and flexible home office solutions should be strong drivers for new employment opportunities. In sparsely populated areas, people will benefit from distributed services and functions for work and health care, for example. These advanced services save time and resources, improve the quality of life, and favour the development of the less urbanised areas.
New services require reliable network infrastructures providing ubiquitous access. IP is currently gaining an important position as a unifying protocol, migrating from transport to access networks. This migration, combined with the emergence of multiple access technologies and convergence between fixed and wireless media, will have a strong impact on how the customer is reached, and what services can be offered.
New actors are positioning themselves in the access network through new technologies including HFC (hybrid fibre-coax networks), LMDS (local multipoint distribution radio systems), dark fibres, local loop unbundling, GSM, and soon UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications services). Virtual operators are also appearing in the marketplace. All of these trends will shape the communications world in upcoming years.