What's 21CN?

[notsobig]

I'm just curious. As far as I know it's upcoming BT network service to which my exchange will be switched in Q3 2008, but has anything firm confirmed yet? Does it improve your connection speed?

[kidzer]

AFAIK, its BT's plan for upgrading the UK's POTS network (to a 21st Century Network - 21CN) to Fibre Optic cabling instead of copper.

Beyond that, i'm not really sure - i'd assume that would lead to speed increases etc, but it is BT so...

[kopite]

21CN is making the whole BT network digital.

IT will involve fibre straight to the cabinet so distance from the exchange should nt be an issue any more.

Also all telephony will be done over fibre instead of copper.

http://www.btplc.com/21CN/Whatis21CN...ives/index.htm

[notsobig]

Ah, 21st Century Network. I see, thanks guys. And that sounds good. As I googled "21CN", I got loads of search results to the Chinese website so I thought it's maybe related to Chinese Network technology lol(especially when ex-BT logo looked bit like a man carrying chopstick in his hand). But now I'm clear thanks

[kopite]

There is actually a chinese company called whoarewe who are making some of the DSLams that will be used in the 21cn

[Stoo]

There is actually a chinese company called whoarewe who are making some of the DSLams that will be used in the 21cn

lol - it's actually Huawei

Others include Fujitsu, Acatel, Cisco, Juniper, Siemens, Lucent (who will actually supply the Juniper kit), Ericsson, and Ciena

[kopite]

aye

huawei equipment is supposed to be really good as well. At least according to Bt ppl i`ve been speaking to

[Stoo]

Yeah, good performance, and cheaper than the competition, which is why Marconi lost out I guess.

[peterb]

21Cn does not deliver fibre to the doorstep, but it does deliver VoIP - so that each customer has an IP addrtess. This does NOT mean that it will be a public IP address - as you will in effect be on BT's private lan, which will (as now) have gateways to the public internet through an ISP. The advantages for BT is that the whole network will be an IP routed network, rather than circuit switched, leading to greater efficiency of the network. More significantly it allows the delivery of other content - such as TV from other servers on the BT 'LAN'.

[GeorgeTuk]

Yeah, good performance, and cheaper than the competition, which is why Marconi lost out I guess.

I can tell you why Marconi lost because they lose out on everything...I work for a part of their old organisation.

They are staffed by the older generation who fear (and I really mean dislike change), have no clue over bidding processes (no new orders for the last 6 months eek!) and a very poor cash flow system dependant on an out of date timesheet structure. Oh and believe me I have worked for good companies in the past so I know how it can be.

Anyone got jobs in IT support, supervisory or team leading or management. Or maybe something I really must be getting out of here.

[Dave2986]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21cn

[nvening]

The plan has come under some criticism, mainly due to BT's plans for high-speed internet services. BT's main plan for providing internet Access is placing ADSL2+ DSLAMs closer to customers premises by installing them in the street cabinets instead of the exchange. This has been controversial because ADSL2+ is already an old technology and is limited at 24mb/s downstream, and will be even more dated by the time 21CN is completed (Around 2010), leading to criticisms that BT is not future proofing their network. Fibre to the home would be a more appropriate method for delivering high-speed internet.

So this means that we are still going to be restricted to 24MB/s? That is just stupid TBH. With HD video and more streaming TV, and streaming HDTV , its going to cause problems.

Compressed HDTV is about 25Mbits/s right?

[badass]

So this means that we are still going to be restricted to 24MB/s? That is just stupid TBH. With HD video and more streaming TV, and streaming HDTV , its going to cause problems.

Compressed HDTV is about 25Mbits/s right?

We shall have to see. ADSL 2+ installed in street cabinets is a LOT cheaper than fibre to every home.
To give you an idea of the cost of this, It cost my workplace £27,000 to get a fibre link instaled between 2 sites using existing ducting. They are capable of getting broadband at over 7 MBit so aren't far from the exchange. Even taking into account BT's ridiculous markup, thats a lot of money to pay FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD.
Who do you thinik will foot the bill eventually?

[badass]

I can tell you why Marconi lost because they lose out on everything...I work for a part of their old organisation.

They are staffed by the older generation who fear (and I really mean dislike change), have no clue over bidding processes (no new orders for the last 6 months eek!) and a very poor cash flow system dependant on an out of date timesheet structure. Oh and believe me I have worked for good companies in the past so I know how it can be.

Anyone got jobs in IT support, supervisory or team leading or management. Or maybe something I really must be getting out of here.

Marconi are a complete shower. Much like BT TBH.

[malfunction]

huawei equipment is supposed to be really good as well. At least according to Bt ppl i`ve been speaking to

"Who are we?"...

My employer has a small (software) piece of the 21CN pie I believe... I haven't worked with Huawei kit but have heard they are surprisingly similar to Cisco to work with?

[nvening]

so the only way to increase speed to individual houses to to replace personal lines with fibre lines?

Is there somewhere which explains how the system works in basic terms?

Ie what your house links too, and what that links too etc so people not in the know can understand what is being upgraded without too much tech stuff?

Thanks!!!