TF-Mobility and Network Middleware

The development and deployment of mobile technologies and the usage of network middleware to support interoperable roaming services, are becoming key activities among NRENs and academic research institutions.

The TERENA task force on Mobility, which started in 2002, promotes the adoption of such technologies. In September 2008, a change in focus resulted in the renaming of the task force to TF-Mobility and Network Middleware (TF-MNM).

In September 2010, a new terms of reference were approved which strengthened the mobility areas of the task force, investigating ubiquitous mobility through 3G/LTE/4G services in addition to WiFi and the impact of Location Aware Services. The integration of network middleware to support identity federations and 2-factor authentication were also additions to the focus of the task force.

Secretarial support for this task force is provided by TERENA with funding from the GN3 project.

Goals of the Task Force

  • To provide a forum for exchanging knowledge and for testing (new) mobile technologies;
  • To explore middleware technologies to support network services, such as DNSsec;
  • To promote common standards and procedures to increase security on network access;
  • To influence vendors' initiatives to support the concept of federated network access;
  • To liaise at the international level, with other relevant project activities organisations and standardisation bodies, such as the Open Grid Forum (OGF), GN2/GN3, Internet2 and IETF, on mobility related activities;
  • To co-ordinate and provide support to other TERENA activities and task forces and, more specifically, to continue to work in close cooperation with the Task Force on European Middleware Co-ordination and Collaboration (TF-EMC2) on common federated network resource access goals;

Contacts

Chair: Klaas Wierenga, Cisco Systems
Secretary: Brook Schofield, TERENA

Running period: September 2002 - July 2013

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