After a recent announcement of BT’s revised plans on 21CN, the industry must quickly get to grips with the changes that a greater emphasis on a fibre infrastructure will bring, says the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).
"Over the past couple of years the industry has worked hard to work out the impact of 21CN on security equipment," says BSIA Technical Director, Alex Carmichael. "Following the recent announcement of BT’s revised plans and the publication of Ofcom’s consultation document, it is now imperative that we quickly understand the impact ‘fibre to the cabinet’ and ‘fibre to the premises’ will bring." <br><br>"The work we have undertaken to date will not have been wasted as BT’s exchanges will be transferred to 21CN when the current equipment reaches the end of its life or when customer demand requires it. However, BT is looking to invest in an infrastructure capable of delivering super-fast broadband over fibre to about 40 per cent of the population by 2012."<br><br>"These changes raise a number of issues for the industry concerning: the gateways between networks; the introduction of 21CN on a smaller scale; the need to test equipment on a fibre infrastructure; and the risks for industry associated with the dual-running of an IP and a PSTN network." <br><br>"BSIA members have been provided with information on the latest changes and will be inputting into the association’s response to the Ofcom consultation. We will then be working with all interested parties to ensure that the industry is able to quickly get to grips with the changes and prepare their businesses and their customers for what lies ahead. We would welcome input from the wider industry as this project moves forward."
