BT will initially migrate around 350,000 customer lines to the
new network, including many lines served by other telephone and
internet service providers and mobile operators. The
experience and customer feedback from the first mass customer
migration project will help BT finalise plans to roll out 21CN to
customers across the UK by the end of the decade.
21CN will enable BT and the rest of the communications industry
to deliver a new generation of converged communications services.
It will give customers greater control over the way they choose to
use communications services in the future. There will be far fewer
components in the new network – possibly 50% fewer switches, hubs
and routers. It will also see the closure of BT's old Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
The migration will require the replacement of equipment in more
than 50 local exchanges and the implementation of new IT systems to
underpin the delivery of services to customers. Before
services go live over the new infrastructure, all exchange sites in
the area will be assessed for power supply, space and logistics
planning.
Three new metro nodes, or super telephone exchanges, are to be
developed in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, with a further 10 new
transmission sites also developed across the region.
Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly
Government, said: “This investment by BT clearly signifies that
Cardiff and central South Wales is one of Europe’s most dynamic and
progressive regions. The end result will transform our
personal and business lives, and help attract high tech industry
and services to Wales.”
Paul Reynolds, chief executive of BT Wholesale, said Cardiff was
chosen "primarily because of its impressive track record in
pioneering the benefits of, and attracting inward investment in,
advanced communications and information technology."
He added that the area's demographics are also representative of
the UK market and, critically, BT Wholesale’s customer base. "It’s
essential that 21CN meets the needs of operators, service
providers, businesses and consumers alike, said
Reynolds.
Matt Bross, BT Group’s chief technology officer said: “This
rollout will be the first time anywhere in the world that customers
will have communications services provided over such a radical next
generation network. The operational experience that we gain in
Cardiff and the surrounding area will enable us to move full steam
ahead and deliver 21CN to everyone in the UK – migrating a total of
30 million lines – in just four years. It’s an enormous
technical and operational challenge but will enable customers to
benefit from compelling new services”.
21CN claims to be the world’s most radical next generation
network transformation programme, requiring an investment by BT of
up to £10 billion by the end of the decade.
