Network transformation - BT has embarked upon a ￡10billion network transformation project. What benefits will the project bring to its customers?

摘要

One of the most ambitious telephony projects ever undertaken is now underway. Requiring an investment of ￡10billion, BT's 21st Century Network - or 21CN - programme is giving the UK the world's first national telecommunications infrastructure based almost entirely on the messaging technique that has changed the world: the Internet Protocol (IP). For several years, telephone calls have been made using IP over the internet, hence Voice over IP (VoIP). Whilst VoIP looked like a good idea in principle, it was mostly a pain in practice. But things have improved hugely. Currently, VoIP leader Skype is attracting 150,000 new users a day and recently passed the 100million download mark, but its service still requires a headset, software and a pc. Another player, Vonage, has just launched its VoIP service in the UK. It requires phones to be plugged into a broadband connection using an adapter. Vonage is also working with Uniden on a cordless handset, which will plug directly into a broadband connection or router. VoIP may be rapidly becoming mainstream, but a few years ago, the idea that one of the world's largest incumbent telcos would convert its entire network to IP would not have been taken seriously. Now it is happening.