[Asterisk-Users] [CAVPDiscussion] OT: BT to replace legacy tele com infrastructure with open, standards-based VoIP switches

[Steve Kennedy]

On Thu, Jun 08, 2006 at 01:42:25PM -0600, Colin Anderson wrote:

> Just hit Slashdot:
> http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/06/08/1725215&threshold=1
> http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/07/news/companies/pluggedin_fortune/index.htm
> >From TFA:
> "But what's really cool about what will happen in Cardiff - and eventually
> the rest of the U.K. - is that BT is creating an open, standards-based
> platform for which anyone can develop new applications. In other words, the
> phone has the potential to become more like the Internet with its
> proliferation of cool new Web sites, tools and services."

This is old news ... however BT's 21CN (21st Century Network) is going
to change telephony in the UK.

Though Cardiff is the first town to go live, you can be sure BT have (or
are very close to) completing the IP core backbone which will link all
of their 5,600 digital local exchanges (DLE). This is based on fibre
running IP/MPLS.

Customers will then connect via analogue to the DLE where it will be
converted to H.248, and then connect to a local call manager.

I believe they'll also support IP to the home, with some kind of (line
powered) router built into the master socket which will support ADSL2+.
This will only work in urban areas, so they'll need a wireless solution
for rural areas and they'll use WiMAX for that (which will make one or
two companies in the UK very rich).

It's going to cost more to bill calls than charge the customers, so UK
calling will approach zero.

BT are going to offer at least a triple play of voice/video/internet.
These services are well under way, they already offer 2 of the 3 and BT
Vision is touting service and they've done a deal with a STB
manufacturer.

They've also acquired a low power GSM license - so mobile is in their
plans somewhere.

Ofcom have proposed that BT Retail are no longer regulated for pricing,
which means they can bundle services. BT were also very vocal about
Ofcom not regulating VoIP services (oh, their new network is completely
IP based .....), BT have more staff in their regulation department than
Ofcom staff in total.

Many don't think BT (as in the old monolith) will be able to do this,
but their 21CN division seems to be very forward thinking and they know
they're going to canablise existing markets. Expect major connurbations
to be wired up very soon after Cardiff, and rural areas when they sort
out wireless.

Other telcos/VoIP suppliers are going to die horribly ............ all
for the good of the consumer though.


Steve

buil
-- 
NetTek Ltd  UK mob +44-(0)7775 755503
UK +44-(0)20 79932612 / US +1-(310)8577715 / Fax +44-(0)20 7483 2455
Skype/GoogleTalk/AIM/Gizmo stevekennedyuk / MSN steve at gbnet.net
Euro Tech News Blog http://eurotechnews.blogspot.com