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21CN - First customers go live on BT's next generation network in South Wales

BT engineerOn Tuesday 28 November 2006, BT made communications history when the transfer of the first customer lines to its new next generation network began at Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan.

To reach this important milestone by BT had to:

  • re-build around ten per cent of the UK’s core national communications infrastructure
  • install 21CN equipment at over 100 sites across the UK
  • lay more than 2,300 kilometres of new fibre optic cable in South Wales
  • invest more than 1,500 man years in developing new IT systems to support the new network.

A comprehensive trial and testing programme is underway. Indeed before the first customers were migrated in November 2006, more than 80 million calls had been successfully carried over an IP trunk network link and more than 300 trialists were testing end to end calls. All in all around half a million tests were conducted prior to the start of end user migration.

The people and businesses of Cardiff and the surrounding area will be the first in the UK to enjoy phone calls over BT's 21CN as it is rolled out to a regional concentration of customers for the first time. BT will migrate thousands of customer lines in the South Wales area, including many served by other telephone and internet service providers and mobile operators. BT is working closely with communications providers in the area to ensure end users are informed of developments relating to their services in the run up to the migration.