My friends at Siemens Networks announced today that Siemens has been selected as one of two suppliers by BT to supply Carrier class Ethernet network equipment as part of its 21st Century Network program (21CN).  BT will deploy Siemens SURPASS hiD Ethernet carrier-class switches, element management, system integration and support services as part of a comprehensive end-to-end Carrier Ethernet implementation in the Metro, Core and Edge domains of the new network.  Here's the press release:

BT selects Siemens SURPASS Carrier Ethernet solutions as part of Global 21st Century Network implementation

Siemens Networks has today announced that it has been selected as one of two suppliers by BT to supply Carrier class Ethernet network equipment as part of its 21st Century Network program (21CN).  BT will deploy Siemens SURPASS hiD Ethernet carrier-class switches, element management, system integration and support services as part of a comprehensive end-to-end Carrier Ethernet implementation in the Metro, Core and Edge domains of the new network. 

Inherent within the Siemens SURPASS hiD 66xx platforms will be PBB-TE (Provider Backbone Bridging Traffic Engineering) technology, currently being ratified within the IEEE.  This enables Ethernet technology to be applied to large scale carrier networks, allowing operators to realize reductions in deployment and operational costs. PBB-TE has shown itself to be a new, highly cost-effective transport technology for Ethernet-based communications networks, and one which can evolve to provides the necessary manageability and scalability for the core domains of carrier networks.

“We have been anticipating the widespread deployment of Ethernet in our 21CN architecture for a while but have been waiting for development to help make the technology viable for deployment in carrier grade networks. The implementation of Ethernet also complements fully BT’s well established MPLS strategy within 21CN,” said Matt Beal, Director for 21CN at BT Wholesale.

“Carrier Ethernet is at the heart of our strategy and promises huge growth.  Carriers across the world are reassessing their technology and service roadmaps and seeking solutions that drive down cost, improve service, increase capability and reduce time to market for new next generation services”, said Christian Unterberger, President Fixed Networks at Siemens Networks. ”We look forward to working with BT in the coming months to continue our excellent working relationship and track record in the 21CN implementation.”

Siemens SURPASS Carrier Ethernet
Siemens SURPASS Carrier Ethernet portfolio includes end-to-end Carrier Ethernet equipment ideally suited for triple-play, business services and network convergence.  SURPASS Carrier Ethernet takes advantage of Ethernet's low cost of ownership while also providing carrier-grade reliability, scalability, ease-of-use, administration and end-to-end management with its Advanced Ethernet Package (AEP). 
Many carriers worlswide like Deutsche Telekom, Telecom Italia, Finnet, Svyaz Invest, Actel and Tidewater or Telcom already use Siemens SURPASS Carrier Ethernet.

Siemens Networks GmbH & Co KG
Siemens Networks* engages in a dialog with its customers to create trendsetting communications solutions that help network operators and service providers achieve their business goals. Siemens Networks contributes its innovative strength, worldwide experience and unsurpassed implementation expertise in all areas of voice and data communications. As an innovation leader, Siemens Networks delivers customer value today and prepares customers for tomorrow with trendsetting solutions. Siemens Networks is a fully-owned subsidiary of Siemens AG and operates in about 100 countries.

* Siemens Networks will merge into a 50-50 joint venture with the Nokia Networks Business Group, creating a telecommunications powerhouse that will be called Nokia Siemens Networks. The new company will be a global communications leader with strong positions in key growth segments of the fixed and mobile network infrastructure and services, featuring a world-class fixed-mobile convergence capability. Nokia Siemens Networks is expected to start operations in the first quarter 2007, subject to fulfillment of the closing conditions and agreement on a number of detailed implementation steps.

More about Siemens Networks at www.siemens.com/networks