Alcatel today announced that its service routing and management solution has been chosen by BT to provide IP/Ethernet switching as part of the carrier`s 21st Century Network (21CN) PSTN transformation trial which will pilot voice services over a dedicated IP network.
BT`s 21CN initiative will create the enabling infrastructure for the growth of BT and the UK telecoms industry. As part of the initiative, BT has unveiled a transformation program to move its entire UK network to a multi-service, IP based infrastructure by 2009. As a result, BT will remove duplication across separate PSTN and ATM networks and will converge voice and data services over a single IP/MPLS network. From October 2004, as part of a trial, calls that are currently circuit-switched over the PSTN network will be carried as packets within an IP environment for 1 000, then later 4 000, customers.
BT`s PSTN transformation trial will use the Alcatel 7750 Service Router (7750 SR) to meet the operational challenges of maintaining the required quality of service for packetised voice and data across multiple virtual private networks (VPNs). In addition, BT will deploy the 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM), which improves the delivery of new generation packet services by enabling rapid, scalable and manageable delivery of IP/MPLS and Ethernet network-based services.
"There is a compelling business proposition to move voice services onto a single IP/MPLS-based converged platform. The most important aspect of that convergence though is that customer services are either the same or better. Alcatel`s IP solution helps make this possible for BT and other progressive carriers who are taking this step toward delivering voice services over an IP network," said Basil Alwan, President of Alcatel`s IP activities. "The resiliency and scalability of the 7750 SR are unparalleled, and the 5620 SAM ensures that BT can easily provision and maintain its IP-based services."
This announcement follows a series of contracts in 2004 between Alcatel and BT. Recently Alcatel`s Open Service Platform provided a scalable and intelligent solution, which BT uses to develop customised applications for its own customers. BT also signed a new contract with Alcatel to support the ongoing roll-out and development of BT`s broadband access services in the UK, and the service provider announced it would introduce new Ethernet services over its existing nationwide network based on the Alcatel 7670 Routing Switch Platform.
The 7750 SR is a next-generation service delivery platform that has already demonstrated significant traction with service providers in Europe, Asia and North America. In its first year of availability Alcatel has won 25 new customers, including TeliaSonera, China Telecom, Telenet and Spirit Telecom.
Share
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc, the holding company for the BT Group of companies. BT is one of the world`s leading providers of telecommunications services and one of the largest private sector companies in Europe. Its principal activities include local, long distance and international telecommunications services; mobile communications; Internet services; and IT solutions. In the UK, BT serves more than 28 million exchange lines as well as providing networks.
Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or to their employees. Alcatel leverages its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services to bring value to its customers in the framework of a broadband world. With sales of 12.5 billion euro in 2003, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.