Next generation, new generation or, as Verizon perversely insists on calling it, third generation networks, hit the headlines again earlier this year with Telkom`s announcement that it will spend R30 billion implementing such a beast.

NGN realises the vision of that much abused word – convergence – uniting voice and data traffic on one physical infrastructure. This has obvious benefits. You only have one resource to manage, instead of separate voice and data systems, and you only have one set of support staff to pay.