Publication

This note examines next generation telecoms networks (NGNs) and their introduction in the UK. It points out that traditional telecommunications networks were developed to carry a single type of service, such as voice calls. In contrast, NGNs carry all types of services, including voice, video and e-mail, on a common platform. NGNs offer significant cost savings to operators and new services to consumers, but also present challenges in maintaining the quality, reliability and security of communications. British Telecom (BT) plans to roll out a £10bn '21st Century Network' (21CN) by 2012 that will make the UK the first country to replace its incumbent telephone network with an NGN.