FCS UPDATE
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NGN deployment news
FCS General Manager Michael Eagle provides an update on
21CN deployment, and looks at the key issues highlighted in the
Ofcom consultation on how it should approach regulation in a
mixed world of ‘next generation’ and analogue networks.
Michael Eagle
O
ver recent months
• Migration of an initial 75,000
to more traditional analogue or an IP operator to invest in
BT has announced a
voice lines on to the new
or TDM networks. This raises a equipment which will eventually
number of changes
network in South Wales has been
number of questions about how become redundant. On this basis,
to its plans for the
completed. The next phase will
interconnection and migrations FCS clearly favours a scenario
introduction of its 21st Century
see this increased to 350,000 lines.
should operate in a world in which which requires the TDM operator
Network. This has wider implications
• Approximately 500 exchanges
both IP and TDM networks will be to provide the interworking.
for industry, and Ofcom’s recently
have been enabled for next
operated in parallel, and about
published consultation on Next
generation broadband, with
how Ofcom should regulate in Technical standardisation and
Generation Networks (NGNs)
the products are available
such a mixed economy world. equipment compatibility issues:
identifies a significant trend. It
to a potential market of 10
Specifically, Ofcom is considering Testing of customer equipment
suggests that the focus of industry
million UK homes and business
the implications for consumer as part of 21CN rollout has
investment has shifted away from
(a footprint of 40 per cent).
protection, investment, competition highlighted some compatibility
investment in core IP networks to
Moving forward, BT plans to
and some technical issues. issues. For example, a significant
the provision of fibre in the access
extend the 21CN broadband
proportion of security, fire and
network – highlighted variously
footprint to 55 per cent.
Protection of consumers during the social care alarms connected to
in recent headlines as Super-fast
Broadband, Fibre To The Cabinet,
•
migration to NGN: The key issues the telephone network are sensitive
BT has decided not to proceed
highlighted by Ofcom are that the to the increased end-to-end delay
Fibre To The Premises or Next
at present with development of
services offered on NGNs should of NGNs and may not operate
Generation Access (NGA). The
its next generation voice product,
be at least equivalent to existing reliably in certain circumstances.
consensus is that investment in
Wholesale Voice Connect.
services and that customers should
NGA and the services it will enable not suffer any detriment during FCS agrees with the urgent need
is most likely to provide a return In the meantime, other companies the transition to NGNs. FCS agrees to address these problems and
in the current economic climate. have introduced NGNs of their and is particularly concerned in also notes that devices which
This trend is evidenced by recent own and Ofcom’s consultation this area to ensure that WLR is may compromise the integrity
announcements from BT which is a recognition that, as a fully supported on 21CN with no of Critical National Infrastructure
has committed itself to a major consequence of the above loss of existing functionality. With operations are also affected.
investment in fibre while significantly developments, the move to NGNs regard to migrations, it is essential Measures must be taken to
modifying its approach to roll out of will be gradual, will involve other that customers can switch easily ensure that legacy operators
its 21st Century Network (21CN). BT communication providers’ NGNs and that the customer experience such as BT provide sufficient
has moved away from the original much more prominently (rather is good with no interruptions to time to allow replacement of
mass migration approach under than being driven by 21CN) and incoming or outbound service. It is affected equipment by owners
which whole exchanges would be will not be the step change which also fundamental that all migration and operators in a way which
migrated simultaneously. It is also was initially anticipated. The processes must be symmetrical, is economically viable.
making changes to the delivery consultation identifies NGNs as ‘... ie, that reverse migrations are
of new next generation services. networks using Internet Protocol as easy to carry out (and at the Finally, it is clear that new
(IP) capable of being used for same cost) as the initial switch. technology is not the only factor
In terms of the deployment of 21CN, both voice and data and in which which is driving change in the
BT is now pursuing a strategy that there is some control of QoS. Interconnection arrangements market. As business models
involves a limited mass migration NGNs feature a common transport between IP and TDM networks: evolve, the distinction between
project in South Wales (with a view layer which physically carries Ofcom is seeking views on which fixed and mobile services and
to identifying best practice for packets of data, and a separate network, in a mixed TDM/IP markets becomes blurred. And
future mass migrations), in parallel control layer which provides environment, should provide as competition erodes the
with upgrading key exchanges to intelligence to specify, control and the interworking function to dominance of the bigger players
enable delivery of next generation manage the services contained convert traffic between the two Ofcom will need to consider the
broadband on an on demand basis. within the data packets’. standards and how costs should basis for future regulation where
Key points of current the delivery be recovered. FCS has stated SMP is not available as the key
status can be summarised as follows: The significance of this (beyond that Ofcom’s policy in this area regulatory trigger. FCS encourages
the ability of NGNs to deliver must be forward looking. The both Ofcom and Government
• Development of the new services quicker and issue, in simple terms, is whether to to ensure that there is access to
21CN core and transmission more cheaply) is that NGNs ask a TDM operator to make an communications infrastructure on
networks is complete. have different characteristics investment in future technology reasonable terms.
n
26 COMMS DEALER OCTOBER 2009 www.comms-dealer.com
26 FCS.indd 1 30/9/09 15:58:05
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