NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE FOR E- BUSINESS
E‐business infrastructure is the
architecture of hardware, software, content and data used to deliver e‐business
services to employees, customers and partners.
Defining an adequate E‐business
infrastructure is vital to all companies adopting e‐business as it affects directly
the quality of service experienced by users of the system in terms of speed and
responsiveness.
E-Business needs a network infrastructure to transport the content through electronic, interactive or multimedia superhighway. Information superhighways(I-way) describe a high capacity (broadband), interactive (two way) electronic pipeline to home or office that capable of supporting a large numbers of e-com applications.
E-business user requires voice, data and video conferencing services with their respective separate networks.
There are 3 major components which build the information superhighway or E-business infrastructure.
- Consumer access equipment.
- Local on - ramps.
- Global Information distribution network.
1. CONSUMER ACCESS EQUIPMENT
· It represents a critical category, the absence or slow progress of which is holding up other segments of the I-way.
· It includes hardware and software vendors such as:
- Physical devices: Routers and switches and hubs.
- Access devices such as computers and set-top boxes
- Software platforms such as browsers and operating systems like Mozilla Firefox, Internet explorer, AOL Explorer etc.
2. LOCAL OR ACCESS ROADS, OR ON-RAMPS
· This segment of network infrastructure provides linkages between businesses, schools, and homes to the communications backbone. This component is often called the "last mile" in the telecommunications industry.
· The providers of access ramps can be differentiated into four categories: telecom-based, cable TV—based, wireless-based, and computer-based on-line information services that include value-added networks (VANs).
3. GLOBAL INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS
· It represents the infrastructure crisscrossing countries and continents.
· Most of the infrastructure for the I-way already exists in the vast network of fiber optic strands, coaxial cables, radio waves, satellites, and copper wires spanning the globe.
· Linking all the components of the I-way will require large capital investments in "open" systems (interoperable equipment that uses common standards) and installing gateways between various networks.
· A final requirement is switching hardware and software to move huge amounts of data effortlessly over such a complex network.
