next generation communications bt s 21cn 21tc social alarms protocol. november 2008.

1. Next Generation Communications � BT�s 21CN & 21TC Social Alarms Protocol. November 2008. Charles Henderson &Mike Piggott

3. Charles Henderson(MA MBA CEng FIET CITP FBCS WCIT) TSA Role: Independent Project Manager. DoH NHS DGInfso eHealth eInclusion

4. From 20th to 21st Century( the pathway to the future) The 20th Century was a period of accelerating change and saw some technology innovations , social developments and trends which have shaped the social alram environment that we have today. More signficantly they will shape the future of telecare provision. The key foundations of future change were laid post WWII. The end of the war was a time of reconstruction and sweepong away of the old order, or what remained of it post the great war. A nation at war had expectations of peace time and prosperity and signifcant social change was begun. Relative stability and repatriation led to a surge in population. The destruction of urban centres led to the development of new towns to accommodate those displaced in the old crowded urban centres. People became more mobile in both geography and social status. The NHS was fored. In this context BT�s 21CN network plans and roll out and the development of 21TC protocols for communicatons are just milestones along aroad of developments that we are followingThe 20th Century was a period of accelerating change and saw some technology innovations , social developments and trends which have shaped the social alram environment that we have today. More signficantly they will shape the future of telecare provision. The key foundations of future change were laid post WWII. The end of the war was a time of reconstruction and sweepong away of the old order, or what remained of it post the great war. A nation at war had expectations of peace time and prosperity and signifcant social change was begun. Relative stability and repatriation led to a surge in population. The destruction of urban centres led to the development of new towns to accommodate those displaced in the old crowded urban centres. People became more mobile in both geography and social status. The NHS was fored. In this context BT�s 21CN network plans and roll out and the development of 21TC protocols for communicatons are just milestones along aroad of developments that we are following

5. Exchange Progress Intensive switchboard operators are replaced first by electro mechanical switched or Strowger relays. These are replaced in the 70�s by a computerised system �X� developed by a UK consortium of Plessey, GEC Coventry. Modern equipment has MSAN and LLU modules Multi service access nodes and local loop unbundling.Intensive switchboard operators are replaced first by electro mechanical switched or Strowger relays. These are replaced in the 70�s by a computerised system �X� developed by a UK consortium of Plessey, GEC Coventry. Modern equipment has MSAN and LLU modules Multi service access nodes and local loop unbundling.

6. 21Century Network

7. Mike Piggott BT Project Director focused on the implications of 21CN on CPE. Liaison with CPE manufacturers and industry association user groups. MIS operations, product management & business management background in IT, networking & telecoms businesses.

8. 21CN � Programme has Evolved. Continual customer feedback helps to inform and enhance the programme Now prioritising the delivery of next generation services ahead of replicating old services Introducing windows for voluntary upgrades to new services before planned migration The scope of 21CN has also been expanded, to include: The introduction of software-driven innovation capabilities More detailed components for enterprise customers New technology to improve mobile access Consistency between 21CN and NGA

9. 21CN � Objective Remains Unchanged

10. 21CN - Key Milestone Overview

11. Migration Schedule Pathfinder 75k

12. Implementing Services on 21CN PSTN: New PSTN line cards in new MSAN edge equipment. IP packet based transport of voice data (legacy PSTN uses switched circuit transport). ISDN: New ISDN line cards in new MSAN edge equipment. IP packet based transport of voice data (legacy PSTN uses switched circuit transport). Broadband: New ADSL/ADSL2+ line cards in new MSAN edge equipment. Same IP packet based transport as existing broadband. Some of these changes cause certain characteristics to differ from those on the existing network. eg. Increase in network round trip delay. Essentially the introduction of this brand new network means that at the edge of our network in the local exchange buildings, PSTN & ISDN services will no longer be terminated on switches but on new boxes with new linecards called MSAN�s as we�ve heard, & the voice data will then be carried across the new core network as IP packets as opposed to having a dedicated path in the form of a switched circuit as is the case with the legacy network. For broadband, which already uses an IP core transport mechanism, the change is the transfer from a DSLAM box which is a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer to the MSAN box. If that�s all double dutch, basically these 3 services will be disconnected from existing boxes, plugged into new ones which are different and then connect over a new IP core network. Now these headline changes result in a number of network characteristic changes which we�ll go into now�.Essentially the introduction of this brand new network means that at the edge of our network in the local exchange buildings, PSTN & ISDN services will no longer be terminated on switches but on new boxes with new linecards called MSAN�s as we�ve heard, & the voice data will then be carried across the new core network as IP packets as opposed to having a dedicated path in the form of a switched circuit as is the case with the legacy network. For broadband, which already uses an IP core transport mechanism, the change is the transfer from a DSLAM box which is a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer to the MSAN box. If that�s all double dutch, basically these 3 services will be disconnected from existing boxes, plugged into new ones which are different and then connect over a new IP core network. Now these headline changes result in a number of network characteristic changes which we�ll go into now�.

13. Testing Update PSTN Telecare Devices 159 recorded, published results. 95 clear passes, no action required 6 fails, action must be taken 34 partial fails, action must be taken 24 devices declared obsolete/untested by manufacturers Fail or partial fail does not necessarily mean complete replacement. Here�s a headline update of testing results to date. We have tested hundreds of units of mass market type equipment � corded phones, cordless phones, faxes and so on � out of all of the volume equipment used at home and in business, we have not identified a single piece of this type of equipment that fails to operate post migration. A few minor effects have been identified such as the odd phone sounding a little different when they ring, but no significant failures have been found and we are satisfied that there are no issues with this type of equipment and in fact now are only conducting further testing by exception or within regression testing With analogue PBX�s, working with the top 10 manufacturers and their last few generations of equipment, again equipment has proved to be compatible. Beyond that, with some additional testing of older equipment we have identified just one issue with a 25-30 year old analogue pbx which happens to be a BT product � the Monarch. There is a programme of change out in place for these PBX�s and in fact there are less than 200 of these in service in the UK. A different category where special attention and focus is being applied are PSTN based devices that transmit data to some form of host. Things such as telemetry devices, telecare equipment and so on. Particular care is being taken here because of the nature of the applications and because we have identified a small number of devices that do have issues. For these data type devices we are working with 3rd parties which I�ll talk about in a sec. Here you can also see headline results for Telecare devices � 50 tested, 3 pass 1�s, 8 partial fails � no outright fails � I�ll come back to these and explain them in more detail very shortly. With Broadband�. As per slide ISDN� we are awaiting vendor delivery of service capable infrastructure so we are yet to begin testing but thiswill of course be done before any volume migrations can take place.Here�s a headline update of testing results to date. We have tested hundreds of units of mass market type equipment � corded phones, cordless phones, faxes and so on � out of all of the volume equipment used at home and in business, we have not identified a single piece of this type of equipment that fails to operate post migration. A few minor effects have been identified such as the odd phone sounding a little different when they ring, but no significant failures have been found and we are satisfied that there are no issues with this type of equipment and in fact now are only conducting further testing by exception or within regression testing With analogue PBX�s, working with the top 10 manufacturers and their last few generations of equipment, again equipment has proved to be compatible. Beyond that, with some additional testing of older equipment we have identified just one issue with a 25-30 year old analogue pbx which happens to be a BT product � the Monarch. There is a programme of change out in place for these PBX�s and in fact there are less than 200 of these in service in the UK. A different category where special attention and focus is being applied are PSTN based devices that transmit data to some form of host. Things such as telemetry devices, telecare equipment and so on. Particular care is being taken here because of the nature of the applications and because we have identified a small number of devices that do have issues. For these data type devices we are working with 3rd parties which I�ll talk about in a sec. Here you can also see headline results for Telecare devices � 50 tested, 3 pass 1�s, 8 partial fails � no outright fails � I�ll come back to these and explain them in more detail very shortly. With Broadband�. As per slide ISDN� we are awaiting vendor delivery of service capable infrastructure so we are yet to begin testing but thiswill of course be done before any volume migrations can take place.

16. What is 21TC/ BS8521? Tone Based Signalling Protocol Open Standard designed by TSA Supplier Members Independent of Suppliers Subject to Public Consultation (August & September 2008) Proposed as a British Standard to be published soon. Based on lessons learnt from BS7369 Based on expectations of future �21CN� like networks and tested against BT 21CN network Should be published later this year.

17. Benefits of Standardisation Assurance of suitability No supplier lock-in Greater choice Reduced set-up cost Capacity for new functionality Eg. remote management

18. BS 8521 Provisions Longer tone duration to reduce errors Timings consistent with UK National Transmission Plan Standard and extended data fields to locate and identify alarms Provisions for remote programming with security Error detection mechanisms Available for 21CN roll out

19. The Mechanics of Migration

20. The User Experience? What should a TSA Member be doing? Before Migration During Migration After Migration How should TSA Members act to derive long term benefit? What else?

21. During Migration Both Networks operating in parallel across UK Calls transferring between the Networks NGNs - the 0845/0870 issue. Not all subscribers and call centres use the BT Network There are other retail and wholesale carrier networks and technologies.

22. Generic migration process

23. Migration Impacts

24. 21CN The Telecare Equipment Supplier Challenge Is 21CN going to impact on equipment suppliers? What are their issues? A lot of existing telecare equipment is fine! Some telecare equipment can be supplier modified BUT some (older) equipment?? The challenge is knowing what equipment needs to be modified and scheduling it alongside other production and maintenance. It is a resource problem without total transparenceThe challenge is knowing what equipment needs to be modified and scheduling it alongside other production and maintenance. It is a resource problem without total transparence

25. 21CN The Telecare Service Provider Challenge What are the risks and issues for Service providers? Planning Budgeting Asset Identification Risk and Contingency Management What is ALARP?

27. Advantages of 21CN Reliability Performance Cost Resilience Features Faster new service delivery Software integration

28. BS 8521 & Retail Service Providers There are >120 authorised landline network providers Tier 1 Providers include: BT, Kingston, C&W National Network >10 Switching platforms Do not �re-file� or compress traffic. Others � may have limited network resilience; limited engineering and technical capacity to problem solve?

29. Dump the Phone? Why not just jump to the Internet? Telecomms Act Provisions � Priority Services Contention RAM-Security Implications Training, Choice

30. Is there a problem with existing protocols? Most pre-date Mobile Networks Unbundling Alternative Services Non Geographical Numbers Most are based on �known� network characteristics not design specifications

31. Is there a problem with Mobile phones? There may be no viable alternative Performance cannot be guaranteed It changes constantly It depends on other traffic Uses an asymmetric channel TX/RX need not be the same

32. How can TSA Members help each other during migration? Risk Management Lessons Learnt Best Practice

33. Risk Management: A matter of Choice Live with it Remove it Mitigate it Transfer it Manage it- Asset Management Risk Register

34. Introduction to Risk Registers

35. Risk Register (2)?

36. TSA & 21CN What role should TSA take? Who needs support?