British Telecom places Cisco Systems on 21st Century Network preferred suppliers list

BT has announced it expects to conclude contractual agreements with named preferred suppliers over the summer.

The BT 21CN bid response has involved one of the largest bid teams Cisco has ever assembled comprising of members from every functional area of the company and 500 person years of knowledge and expertise in BT's business and networks. In addition, Cisco has supported its bid with significant upfront investment in facilities, equipment and staff for the successful and rapid rollout of the Cisco Internet Protocol Next Generation Network (IP

"Cisco Systems is extremely pleased to extend our longstanding and successful relationship with BT to create the 21st Century Network, which is set to become one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in the world," said Cisco CEO John Chambers. "We applaud BT for having the foresight to create a network capable of delivering the most advanced video, voice and data services to businesses and consumers globally. BT's 21st Century Network represents a major step forward for the entire communications industry, and we're proud to play such a key role in its creation."

The growing pace of migration to converged IP networks is reflected throughout the telecommunications industry with major customer deployments of Cisco IP NGN solutions in every region, but the scale and speed of the BT 21CN transformation is set to lead all other Next Generation Network projects announced to date. The substantial investment in infrastructure and technology committed by BT and Cisco, as one of its 21CN preferred suppliers, will contribute to the competitiveness and economic health of the UK.

"BT and Cisco Systems have a shared vision for a new generation of telecommunications networks in which consumers will drive demand for new and innovative video, voice and data services," said Mike Volpi, senior vice president of Cisco's routing business. "BT's 21CN network is the blueprint for future networks, and Cisco's carrier-class technology will enable BT to quickly deliver profitable, new services over a secure IP network, meeting service requirements today and for decades to come."

Cisco's IP NGN vision has been closely aligned with the BT 21CN roadmap to achieve IP network convergence. Cisco's proposal positions the Cisco Carrier Routing System-1 family and IOS XR Operating System as one of the key enablers of BT's network transformation.

Robert Lloyd, President of Operations in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, Cisco Systems said: "BT's 21CN will become the catalyst for innovation in the UK, and its impact will be felt globally through the wide-ranging social and economic benefits that it can help bring - from better public services in government, education and healthcare, to improved global competitiveness for UK businesses. We are delighted to be so closely involved in BT's 21CN transformation, and to work together to develop our shared vision of the future of IP services."