down, which means that the network is seen as a tool. The stakeholders are connected by means of a logical series of questions: What services are needed or demanded? The unpredictable user is the queen/king. How can the services be implemented to the satisfaction of the main stakeholders? This includes business aspects. Monopolies Open markets Circuit Packet Fixed Mobile networks networks voice dominance dominance Convergence with media industry Figure 1.2 A view of the paradigm shift Open-ended system Stakeholders Network Service Share- operator provider Supplier holder Regulator The network (artifact) Figure 1.3 The overall telecom area Introduction How do/can the various available technologies cooperate in supporting this target? The chosen approach is the all-access network with a universal service-handling approach. The book thus applies a holistic horizontal integrating view of the changing telecom world, as seen from the telecom business, user and network angles (see Figures 1.4 and 1.5). The prime focus is on principles and context rather than on profound technical descriptions: 'The trend in the future should be a more holistic view of things'. In order to connect subjects and contexts in an understandable way, a number of generic techno-economic and technical reference models are used or highlighted. Examples are a network segmentation model (see part of Figure 1.10 below), a triangle model (Figure 1.5), a fundamental plan model, a profitability model, a process model (Figure 1.6) and the return on capital employed (ROCE) definition. Consequently, reference models act as maps that identify the chapters in the book. The book is written at a basic level enhancing the context orientation. A number of figures are used more than once as a kind of glue between different chapters. As we know, some repetition has learning advantages. This book Technical Technologies Success convergence Telecom factors, business networks tools media industry Figure 1.4 The horizontal approach is similar to the use of the IP prot