The Network Competence Area covers telecommunications activities above the point-to-point systems. This is a much wider definition than the traditional requirement of an OSI layer 3 functionality. This definition is not only made in order to reflect the current activities of the area, but also as an acceptance of the much wider use of the term "network".
The wide scope reflects that the Network Competence Area represents the "glue" in telecommunications and includes both core and access networks as well as the home network and its terminals. A holistic approach is taken, covering software as well as hardware (both electrical and optical) together with a more generic and technology independent conceptual activity on network architectures and functional requirements.
Research is focused within the following main activities:
- Network Elements for All-Optical Networks
- Communication Network Design
- Broadband Access (Wireline and Wireless)
- Resource Management
- Network Interoperability
- Broadband/Multimedia Applications
- High Speed/Capacity Switching
