Network Evolution Roadmapping
BT's future networking vision is centred on 21CN. But technology does not stand still - how will 21CN evolve beyond its initial vision? In the roadmapping activity we are investigating what the next 5, 10 or even 15 year vision architecture for BT's communications networks should be in order to best fit with global economic, technical, social and political trends. BT has many areas of expertise in current and emerging network technologies, and, as you will see elsewhere in the Networks Research Centre website, is helping to propose completely new networking technologies. But which are the best technologies to choose? And how do these technologies come together to form an optimal end-to-end network?
Focus
The roadmapping activity is working to bring BT's networking research community together to help formulate a future network vision which addresses the challenges of speed, flexibility, reduced cost, resilience and, of course, generation of new service revenue.
If future access is based on fibre, should it be PON (passive optical network) or Ethernet based? Will the core network be solely optical or will electronics still play a role? Will Ethernet start to dominate over MPLS and SDH?
We also recognise that BT researchers do not necessarily have all the answers to these questions. We are therefore starting to build on our collaborative links with other operators, vendors and academics to help formulate, share and test our vision thinking.
People
The networks roadmapping activity is lead by
Ranulf Scarbrough and draws on views and expertise from reseachers both in the Networks Research Centre, in other research centres within BT Research and in BT's other lines of business.
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