Interworking CCITT No.7 with the TMN

This paper is an introduction to the issues concerning the use of CCITT Signalling System No.7 (SS No.7) as a data carrier for non-specific network management information, within the telecommunications management network (TMN). That is, can an SS No.7 based network act as a general purpose data communications network (DCN) given that the range of services provided by a telecommunications network is increasing. In order to manage the network efficiently, the appropriate information must be made available to the network management system at the appropriate time in the correct form. In order to do this, telecommunication management networks must be underpinned with a suitable communication network, i.e. the DCN. In order to realise the DCN, a number of options are available, however, the article concentrates upon the role of SS No.7.