BT wants to create a programmable, automated network to reduce the cost and accelerate the introduction of new services.
The move will pave the way for BT’s Network Cloud roll-out – the operator is aiming to create a single, cloud-based technology platform to bring various lines of business together and enable a more flexible, virtualised network infrastructure.
BT will use the platform to create new converged services, combining mobile, Wi-Fi and fixed network services. BT will be able to integrate a range of currently discrete network functions and deploy them on a cloud infrastructure that is built to a common framework and shared across the organisation, throughout the UK and globally.
These include services across BT’s voice, mobile core and radio/access, global services, ISP, TV and IT services, as well as a host of internal applications. Through this, BT aims to cut operational expenditure and simplify operations.
Offering more services, faster
Neil McRae, Chief Architect, BT, said, “With growing demand from our ultrafast broadband services and ultrafast 5G services and has the perfect opportunity to combine several discrete networks into a unified, automated infrastructure.
“This move to a single cloud-driven network infrastructure will enable BT to offer a wider range of services, faster and more efficiently to customers in the UK and around the world.”
Bikash Koley, Chief Technology Officer, Juniper Networks, added, “As a renowned global service provider, BT is a shining example of how to evolve networks to become more agile.
“By leveraging the ‘beach-front property’ it has in central offices around the globe, BT can optimise the business value that 5G’s bandwidth and connectivity brings.
“The move to an integrated telco cloud platform brings always-on reliability, along with enhanced automation capabilities, to help improve business continuity and increase time-to-market while doing so in a cost-effective manner.”
Interesting choice
BT has had a close relationship with Juniper’s much bigger rival, Cisco, for decades, particularly for security products, although it also sells Cisco’s SD-WAN and resells Cisco’s Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)
.