Standardizing Network transit in NATO coalition networks

The focus of this paper is on linking remote IP networks via networks of opportunity using standardized transit profiles to build the NATO Network Enabled Capability (NNEC). This approach enables cost-effective reach-back communications in-line with NATO´s implementation strategy towards network rationalisation. A typical use would be linking National deployed networks to National Headquarters via a transit service offered by NATO networks. The standardized transit profile is called the Packet Network Gateway (PNG) which is now being expanded to cover end-to-end QoS as required for operational command and control applications. This paper explains the PNG concept and its role in the NNEC context including operational drivers, benefits and current status.