1. 1 21CN – Pathfinder programme overview Dave D’Arcy & Bob Corner BT Wholesale The dates and other information about BT's 21CN programme in this presentation are based on the best information currently available. As in any programme of this size and complexity, they may be subject to change

2. 2 Introduction The purpose of this presentation is to explain the 21CN Pathfinder approach: –What is Pathfinder and why are we doing it –Approach to Pathfinder and timescales –The consultation approach –What’s coming next The intended audience is: –Communication providers (CPs) and resellers.

3. 3 Pathfinder Sparking the future for BT Yn tanio dyfodol BT

4. 4 How did we get here? On Tuesday 28 November 2006, BT made communications history when the transfer of the first customer lines to its new next generation network began at Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan. To reach this important milestone BT has already: –re-built around ten per cent of the UK's core national communications infrastructure –installed 21CN equipment at over 100 sites across the UK –laid more than 2,300 kilometres of new fibre optic cable in South Wales –invested more than 1,500 man years in developing new IT systems to support the new network.

5. 5 21CN - evolution 21CN Today A single network that’s physically simpler and more reliable than our existing, complex infrastructure could ever be. Up to 50 per cent fewer components in terms of switches, hubs, routers and suchlike. We will be able to deliver the next generation of converged services faster, more efficiently and more cost-effectively than ever before.

6. 6 Consult21 Objectives Ensure industry is aware of the 21CN vision and BT’s progress towards it. Achieve a shared understanding with Industry. Ensure industry has an opportunity to input to 21CN development. Awareness, Engagement, Influence

7. 7 Bilateral Meetings Consult 21 Working Groups BT 21CN Programme Consult21 (Industry) Steering Board 21CN Plan Systems & Processes Network Structure Conformance testing Implementation & Migration Communications Interconnect & Portfolio Point to Point BroadbandLine Access Industry linkages

8. 8 Consult21 Structure Systems & Processes Network Structure Implementation & Migration Communications Interconnect & Portfolio Point to Point BroadbandLine Access Working Group Management STEERING BOARD Expert Groups

9. 9 What is Pathfinder? A chance to start small & build to a scaleable national solution (in phases). A chance to start early, prove & then review before National Migration from 2008. Cardiff = a good mix of –Business / Residential –City / Rural –POTS / ISDN2 / ISDN30 / BB –Approx 1/80th of the UK

10. 10 Approach to Pathfinder A comprehensive trial and testing programme is underway. More than half a million tests were conducted in the countdown to the first phase of end user migration. BT will migrate around 350,000 customer lines in the South Wales area, including many served by other telephone and internet service providers and mobile operators. Cardiff and the surrounding area was chosen for the first stage of 21CN implementation because the area's demographics are also representative of the UK market and critically, BT's customer base.

11. 11 Approach to Pathfinder BT will be replacing nine digital local exchanges in the area and each one will take approximately 20,000 man hours to complete - the equivalent of almost 94 years for one of our skilled engineers to complete on his/her own! BT estimates 1,100 man days are required for operational readiness and provision of the necessary operational links for communications providers' migration in this area. The experience and customer feedback from the first mass customer migration project will help BT finalise plans to roll out

12. 12 Approach to Pathfinder There are three phases to the Cardiff upgrade. The first, which involves upgrading voice services to around 1,200 customer lines, kicked off in November 2006. Phase two is planned for July and August 2007, when a further 58,000 lines will be upgraded. Finally, by the end of 2007, we will have upgraded all 350,000 PSTN customer lines in Cardiff and the surrounding area.

13. 13 Pathfinder is Focusing on - Migrating 350,000 customer lines Replacing 9 digital local exchanges Installing new equipment in over 70 technical centres Pontypridd Cowbridge Wick Llantwit Major St Athan Bonvilston Rhoose Barry Sully Pencoed Llantrisant Peterston-S-Ely Cardiff Culverhouse Dinas Powys Porthcawl Pentyrch Tonyrefail Ogmore Valley Pontycymmer Maesteg Aberkenfig Bridgend Southerndown Treorchy Ferndale Kenfig Hill Newtown Llantwit Llanrumney Roath Llandaff Radyr Taffs Well Nelson Porth Tonypandy Mountain Ash Caerphilly Treforest Llanishen Whitchurch Hengoed Bargoed Bedlinog Ynysowen Treharris Abercynon Ynysybwl Senghenydd Penarth Llanedeyrn Customer migration boundary The UK Network build is being built in parallel with Pathfinder (over 400 sites), in readiness for migration at the end of Pathfinder. In the Pathfinder area, we will be deploying MSANs at 51 sites, 3 Metro Nodes and 1 Core I-node, together with its supporting 21CN transmission network in a further 20 sites. A closer look….

14. 14 Timetable update: South Wales Apr/May/June 07July/Aug/Sept 07Oct/Nov/Dec 07Jan to June 08 Wick and Bedlinog for voice (non ISDN) Migration of voice (non ISDN) on next 12 concentrators (58,000 lines) Migration of voice (non ISDN) on next 55 concentrators (290,000 lines) Broadband Migration trial in West Midlands July to Dec 08 South Wales Industry review period ISDN2 & 30 Migrations ISDN Trials

15. 15 Timetable update: Overall programme First stage of migration for POTS (South Wales) 2007/08*2008/09*2009/10*2010/11*2011/12* National Migration Begins (Broadband lines initially) National Migration (Voice, Broadband and ISDN) National migration (voice, non ISDN) New enhanced testing capability available for industry service testing ISDN 2 and ISDN 30 (South Wales) * Periods indicated are financial years, April to March.

16. 16 Our goal = seamless customer transfer to 21CN Generic migration process Transfer completion Configure and verify Prepare the network On the night migration Monitor Frames Cleansed Data Audited Frame preparation From 36 to 12 weeks prior Connect to 21CN Data Extracted Transform Load Pre-transfer Testing From 12 weeks prior Cutover to 21CN Data Activation Call Re Routing to 21CN On the night Post transfer tests & monitoring Up to 7 days after

17. 17 Consultation Approach Consult Line Migration eg Pathfinder Review Review TE methods and migration processes Assess the impact On end users BAU fulfilment /assurance processes Identify information and tools required to manage these impacts BT carry out a carefully designed migration in line with a published plan CP’s manage their customers through the migration in line with policies they have created BT/CPs verify the migration process was carried out as expected BT/CPs identify gaps CP’s to review their processes/policies CP’s identify any refinements to their processes/policies National Migration

18. 18 Organisational Learning We don’t expect everything to run smoothly throughout Pathfinder! We’d much rather identify the problems, issues and bottlenecks now than during National Migration. After each phase of Pathfinder we will review what we did and how we did it. BT will conduct these reviews both internally and with CPs. BT will use the output of these reviews to improve the processes that we follow in subsequent migrations where possible.

19. 19 Web calls Previous calls – material available via Consult21 site 18 AprilProduct retirements 24 April21CN overview 2 MayMigration process 22 MayCPE compatibility testing programme 31 MaySwitched-on communications campaign 20 JunePathfinder programme overview Forthcoming calls 9 JulyPreparing for Pathfinder TBABroadband migration programme 27 Sept Migration portal overview Industry invited to suggest topics of interest …

20. 20

21. 21 SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION Information and support for communication providers on the 21CN programme: http://www.btwholesale.com/consult21 The independent public information website covering the process of migration: http://www.switchedonuk.org For general information about BT’s 21CN programme go to: http://www.btplc.com/21CN/

22. 22  Answers Questions