Cardiff first in BT's £10bn 21CN network makeover

Posted on 4 Jul 2005 at 16:54

Cardiff has been chosen by BT as the first city to sample phone calls, broadband and other Ethernet services over its next-generation telecommunications network, dubbed '21st Century Network' (21CN).

Migration of customer lines to the new infrastructure is scheduled to begin during the second half of 2006 and it will require the replacement of equipment in 50 local exchanges as well as new IT systems to support the delivery of the new services that will be possible.

Examples include BT Fusion, a mobile phone that uses Bluetooth and IP technology to automatically connect to a landline when used at home, and BT LiveTime, which enables the broadcast of TV and digital radio to mobile handsets.

Note, however, that initial the rollout should be transparent to the Cardiff population - new services will only become available when 21CN is extended out on a national scale.

'Today's announcement represents a critical shift in the focus of BT's 21CN programme, moving from creating the vision and planning, to delivering the future to customers,' said the chief executive of BT Wholesale, Paul Reynolds. 'It's essential that 21CN meets the needs of operators, service providers, businesses and consumers alike.'

The reason Cardiff was chosen was that BT believes the area's demographics are representative of the UK market in general and, specifically, BT Wholesale's customer base.

It is not just Cardiff but surrounding areas that will be involved. Three new 'super telephone exchanges' are to be developed in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, with a further 10 new transmission sites also developed across the region.

'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,' said Matt Bross, BT Group's chief technology officer said. '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.'

To this end, BT is planning to spend up to £10bn on its 21CN by the end of the decade.

Earlier this week - BT backs Ethernet for 21st Century Network - BT announced three new Ethernet products as part of its future with the next-gen network.

Author: Alun Williams