News
Survey finds low awareness of BT's next-generation network in public
sector
9 April 2009
A survey of public sector telecoms purchasers conducted for
ntl:Telewest Business found that just 43% were aware of 21CN, BT's £10
billion next-generation communications network. BT plans to replace its
entire UK network with 21CN by 2011.
Of the network and telecoms managers questioned who were aware of
21CN, just 30% believe BT will deliver the mammoth project on schedule.
Equally, 30% of network purchasers believe that BT will be two to five
years late in switching all of its customers from its legacy network to
its next-generation network.
The survey also highlighted low awareness of who owns the networks
that provide telecoms services. Asked which providers have a UK telecoms
network, 73% cited BT while only 12% referenced ntl:Telewest Business.
More than half said ownership of the network infrastructure was a
critical factor for telecoms services.
When quizzed about what the new network would provide, 65% of network
purchasers cited improved network speed. However, recognition of the
improvements to existing technology services were hazier. Just 35% cited
increased efficiencies, 33% believed it would improve networked IT
services, and 14% identified true convergence for voice and data
services.
When asked which technological enhancements their organisation would
most benefit from by switching to a next-generation network, 86% of
respondents chose enough bandwidth. Availability of voice, data, video
on any device at any time came in second place with 71%. Sharing your
contact directory across your work phone, personal phone, PDA and
computer scored third place with 55%. Moving seamlessly between the
written and spoken word on a call scored 49%.
“BT has committed to creating a next-generation UK-wide network by
2011 but is being coy with the details, whereas we’ve already rolled out
our next-generation network and it reaches cities and towns the length
and breadth of the country,” said Stephen Beynon, MD of ntl:Telewest
Business. “21CN is a massive project akin to the engineering feat of
digging the channel tunnel. Although BT may be fulfilling its regulatory
responsibilities, few public sector network purchasers seem to have
faith it will be delivered on time.”
“The public sector does care about the sophistication and speed of
the network that connects their sites to the outside world because
they’re so dependent on it. We already have a three-year technological
lead over BT with a network that brings next-generation services
directly to most organisation’s premises,” said Mr Beynon.
In the survey, 100 public sector telecom purchasers were interviewed
by 2Europe for ntl:Telewest Business, which is part of the Virgin Media
Group.
|