BT selects Tata Consultancy Services to help deliver its 21st century network test factory
March 17, 2007

Tata Consultancy Services has been selected to set up BT's 21st Century Network (21CN) test factory. The test model is being designed and built to accurately reflect and test the planned live environment of 21CN and features connections to associated operational support systems.

TCS is partnering with test and measurement vendors, including Ixia, to deliver the test factory. It will provide field proven IP-based Optixia hardware platform and applications to emulate profitable Triple Play services and the transport network on which they are delivered. JDSU will provide its industry leading testers. Lumenaré Networks® is implementing LabMagic®, its industry-leading lab management system while Mercury is providing its Mercury Quality Center™ solution hosted by Mercury Managed Services. Spirent® Communications will be the key test supplier to both broadband and voice domains of the programme.

TCS' main role will be to automate processes in the test factory and deliver end-to-end test systems integration and test programme management. This will enable overall quality assurance in the rollout of BT's network. The project will include inventory and configuration management, test automation and test management tools.

"Adding TCS to the 21CN programme will buttress what is already a very strong project. 21CN brings together hardware and software from an array of vendors, so testing that the components actually work together as expected is a key task to which TCS can bring strong process, testing and OSS expertise," said Jessica Figueras, practice leader, service infrastructure at Ovum.

"We are excited to be a part of such a ground-breaking and world-renowned programme," said A S Lakshminarayanan, VP and country manager, UK & Ireland, for Tata Consultancy Services. "21CN is a demanding project and we are confident that our expertise and in-depth knowledge of the telecommunications market more than enables us to deliver sustained value for BT."

"BT is currently designing its future networks and developing the equipment that it requires to make the operation of 21CN as efficient as possible," said Tony Marson, senior analyst at Yankee Group. "Working with TCS to test this equipment and ensure it works at every stage of the design and deployment process is pivotal to BT's successful delivery of the ground-breaking 21CN project, confirming BT's position as a leader of the UK and global communications industry," he added.

"Testing is a critical aspect of the 21CN programme, ensuring that BT, and the telecom industry as a whole, has full confidence in the performance of the completed network," said Randy Tucker, director of technology and testing, BT Wholesale Networks. "In this capacity, TCS has shown that it has absolutely the right capabilities for the job."

The introduction of an IP network that delivers both voice and data services, as well as the new applications it will provide, is expected to revolutionise the communications industry.