BT deploys global IP-based voice platform

Mumbai: BT has announced a $21 million investment in a first of its kind global voice platform-based on Internet protocol (IP). The programme, which will see the current legacy TDM network replaced by an IP-based network across more than 30 countries worldwide, will dramatically increase the scale and capacity of BT's global voice capability and facilitate the deployment of advanced services for customers.

Approximately half of the initial global rollout plan applies to Asia Pacific markets, reaffirming BT's commitment to driving innovation and the 21st century network (21CN) programme in the region.

In Asia Pacific, BT has been investing in network expansion using the latest technology in response to an average 45 per cent year on year growth in overall voice traffic on the current global managed voice network.

Allen Ma, president, BT Asia Pacific, said: "BT is fully committed to continued service improvement for both delivery and support through common technology platforms, and to improved voice quality through the design flexibility and scalability of our IP network."

A total of seven nodes have already been rolled out across Asia Pacific markets including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India and Japan. The resulting IP voice network is a first for the Asia Pacific region, providing customers with a flexible roadmap that allows them to evolve their voice estate to IP at a pace that suits their business plan. This is possible because the new network is designed to fully support traditional voice services as well as providing many advanced multimedia features.

In addition, it offers a never before seen level of integration between applications and network services. This is of particular benefit in the CRM area where a customer's CRM application can be integrated with the network delivering the business transformation required as well as delivering cost savings through rationalisation of their CRM infrastructure.

Tom Craig, president, IP Networking, BT Global Services, said, "A single integrated IP platform which enables customers to utilise voice as an application and leverage the true benefits of globalization, avoiding the complexities and overheads of a patch-worked networking environment. The investment also allows BT to easily integrate all of its global networks to achieve improved cost control and customer integration to convergence."

The new IP network will provide BT with an increased capability to handle larger volumes of traffic and provide additional functionalities and enhanced features such as the ease of integration with any existing servers, standard interface for multiple applications, and the ability to deploy more integrated multimedia services such as audio and video conferencing, and video streaming. In addition, the network has been designed to ensure long-term flexibility and quality of service for both BT and its customers.

The first phase of the programme has already been successfully delivered, offering services over the new platform in 12 countries globally. The new platform will be rolled out to three new countries per quarter while the legacy platform will be withdrawn in 2008.

Tom Craig added: "This investment once again highlights our long-term commitment to provide a high-quality service for our customers. Through increased scalability and access to the global IP capacity, this program will enable us to provide a superior service to our customers. On this IP network, customers will be provided with next generation services at better value."

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in more than 160 Countries. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2005, BT Group's revenue was £18,623 million with profit before taxation of £2,354 million.