Ericsson and BT are to roll out the Ericsson ENGINE Integral network across the UK following a successful initial phase of national deployment. The introduction of ENGINE Integral in a 'hybrid' configuration is the latest phase in BT and Ericsson's Next-Generation System (NGS) programme, and part of a £270 million frame agreement signed in 1999.
The deployment is part of the ongoing evolution of BT's next-generation network. ENGINE Integral will form the core of BT's, multi-service packet trunk network and will provide additional capacity to cope with rapid traffic growth from new and existing services, offered by both BT and its wholesale customers.
Following the success of this initial phase the ENGINE Integral solution has now achieved formal product acceptance and is ready for network-wide deployment. The network will also include Ericsson's network management system providing integrated, standards-based management of the ENGINE Integral network.
The first multi-service switches were deployed in London, Ilford and Reading in England, and Glasgow in Scotland. Each of these four switches already handles 30 to 40 million voice calls each week.
BT and Ericsson are planning to deploy another 19 multi-service switches before the end of 2002. Once in full service, ENGINE Integral will carry over 50 per cent of BT's total trunk network traffic. The Engine Integral solution represents an important part of the Ericsson Engine Softswitch Solution Program.
"We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the initial phase of this project. This is a major step in the phased development of what we believe is a world-leading Next Generation Network," said Richard Newman, General Manager of Planning and Delivery of Network Transport at BT Wholesale.
"For Ericsson, this is a real showcase for the ENGINE Integral solution because the units are operating in what is one of the toughest environments worldwide. The nationwide roll-out will make BT's trunk network state-of-the-art and future-proof, " said Thomas Eriksson, Head of the ENGINE Core program at Ericsson.
BT and Ericsson's NGS partner program started in 1999 with the migration of BT's backbone to the ENGINE multi-service network. Since then, the two companies have been working in close partnership to design, integrate and roll out BT's next-generation multiservice trunk network
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Peter Olofsson, Director Public Relations
Ericsson Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 8 719 1880 / +46 70 267 3445
E-mail: peter.olofsson@lme.ericsson.se
Paula Wagstaff, Communications Director
Ericsson North Western Europe
Phone: +44 1444 234354 / +44 7836 204543
E-mail: paula.wagstaff@etl.ericsson.se
About ENGINE Integral
ENGINE Integral is a proven Softswitch solution in commercial service in numerous networks worldwide. ENGINE Integral provides a low risk, rapid evolution from existing circuit-switched networks to packet-based multi-service networks to a single, all-IP network. 'Greenfield' operators who want to build a carrier-class, multi-service network right from the start can also utilize ENGINE Integral. In contrast to existing networks that are dedicated to a specific application (such as telephony or data), a multi-service network employs a common switching and transport layer that can be shared by numerous services and applications - videoconferences, phone calls or Internet sessions - one network does it all.
ENGINE Integral supports all existing PSTN/ISDN services, with full IN support, while meeting real-time QoS and reliability needs. This ensures a solid foundation for protecting existing revenues. In addition, ENGINE Integral provides numerous other services based on its ATM, IP, Frame Relay, MPLS and X.25 capabilities, such as IP-VPN and leased line provisioning.
The ENGINE Integral components include a full-blown management system, telephony servers, edge and core nodes, narrowband and broadband dual-use access nodes and a comprehensive service offering.