BT is investing approximately US$48 million to expand and enhance its network in the Asia Pacific region for integrated voice, video and data services. The enhancements are already underway, with expected completion this year.
The implementation of a new voice platform which will support the convergence for the wholesale, corporate and video segments will begin in June 2005. The installation of the new voice platform for an integrated international and domestic offering is progressing on schedule for Bangalore, Delhi, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo.
New MPLS node locations to be added in 2005 include: Auckland, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Melbourne and Osaka. Additional nodes are being added to Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei.
BT has over 60,000 customer sites connected or on order on its MPLS platforms and, on average, deploys a new MPLS node every 10 days.
Additionally, BT is increasing its direct coverage to 13 countries and 30 cities with its own infrastructure across Asia Pacific, with reach also increased to over 50 cities. BT delivers services to multinational organisations in 115 countries across the globe.
The core subsea backbone operated by BT which supports its harmonised portfolio is also being upgraded from 300 Mb/s to 1.5 Gb/s following the growth of over 400 per cent in traffic to and from Europe and the US and within Asia Pacific in the past two years. Network paths added include from Hong Kong to Europe, from Singapore to the US, and between London and Singapore.
Allen Ma, president, BT in Asia Pacific, said “In 2003, we began rebuilding BT’s network in Asia Pacific. The strategy moving ahead is in tune with BT’s 21st century network (21CN) implementation and timetable, and will allow us to integrate domestic and international voice capacity across nine countries in this region.”http://www.btplc.com
