BT to headline seminars at optical comms conference

The European Conference on Optical Communications (ECOC) is to take place at the Internationales Congress Centrum in Berlin later this month.

Technologies such as FTTx and Next Generation Networks are the topic of conversation this year. The event will include Market Focus seminars headlined by BT.

Head of Network Transformation Research for BT Group, Don Clarke, will be presenting advances in optical network technology. Other talks will include NGN (Next Generation Networks) and FTTx (fibre to the premises).

BT is currently rolling out its own NGN, known as the 21st Century Network (21CN), which is a network designed to transfer voice and data traffic using IP (Internet Protocol) based services rather than the traditional telephone network (PSTN).

Some aspects of 21CN will involve deploying fibre to the Home, Curb or Cabinet (FTTx), but it is limited to Greenfield sites.

BT was met with some criticism regarding FTTx.   Although the core 21CN network will have a much greater capacity for carrying high-bandwidth services, critics such as the Broadband Stakeholders Group, believe the move to next-generation broadband services will require the deployment of FTTx , in order for users, businesses and the UK as a whole to gain the full benefits and keep ahead with other nations.

However, BT has no plans at present to deploy fibre deep in the network from the local loop (local exchanges) to premises and instead will rely on the old copper based network.

As it stands, 21CN will increase overall broadband speeds to an average maximum of 8 -12 Mbps using ADSL2+ technology.  Despite a potential maximum speed of 24Mbps, this speed is unachievable for pretty much everyone.  Even BT agrees that you would have to live in an exchange to get these kinds of speeds.

BT says they have no business case for deploying fibre nationally in the UK, but clearly acknowledges that it is a requirement for the future.