BT Group plc Selects Acterna for DSL Test Solution; Acterna's New DSL Test Solution Provides Innovative, Scalable Solution to one of Europe's Largest Broadband Providers.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers LONDON & GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2003 Acterna today announced that BT (FTSE FTSE A company that specializes in index calculation. Although not part of a stock exchange, co-owners include the London Stock Exchange and the Financial Times. Notes: The FTSE is similar to Standard & Poor's in the United States. :BTA (Business Technology Association, Kansas City, MO, www.bta.org). A membership association of manufacturers, dealers, distributors and service companies in the business equipment and systems industries, founded in 1994. ) has purchased Acterna's centralised DSL DSL in full Digital Subscriber Line Broadband digital communications connection that operates over standard copper telephone wires. It requires a DSL modem, which splits transmissions into two frequency bands: the lower frequencies for voice (ordinary Test Solution comprising QT200 Test Head and EMS software in addition to a range of services. The agreement with Acterna for hardware and software supports BT's aggressive DSL network expansion, which recently surpassed one million wholesale DSL connections and has targeted a total of five million by 2006. The value of the call-off contract is estimated to be around GBP GBP In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the British Pound. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 2.8 million pounds sterling ($4.4 million(1)) in the 2003-04 financial year with further spend in subsequent years as BT's broadband network grows. Following an extensive selection process and three month field trial that involved complete collaboration between Acterna, United Technology Europe Limited (UTEL UTEL University of Toronto English Library (Canada) ), Alcatel and Fujitsu, BT selected Acterna to provide the test solution for their network fault management system and UTEL for the TAM switching across its UK-wide network. The test functionality will be integrated into the existing BT Operational Support Systems (OSS Oss (ôs), city (1994 pop. 62,141), North Brabant prov., S Netherlands; chartered 1399. It is a significant industrial center. Manufactures include meat products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, and metalware. ) and Test OS software to provide automatic fault location. This capability will be extended to the ISP (1) See in-system programmable. (2) (Internet Service Provider) An organization that provides access to the Internet. Connection to the user is provided via dial-up, ISDN, cable, DSL and T1/T3 lines. community to enhance the responsiveness and correction of potential broadband faults. The unique working relationship between Acterna and UTEL during the field trials has enabled the development of a seamless solution matched to BT technical requirements, creating a key strategic partnership to deliver broadband test functionality. "Acterna demonstrated its innovative, pro-active and co-operative partnership approach with us and our other vendors during our extensive field trials and offered us a best-in-breed system that can grow with our future needs," said Bill MacKenzie William "Bill" MacKenzie (born December 12, 1911 in Winnipeg, Manitoba - died May 29 1990) is a former Canadian ice hockey defenceman. MacKenzie started his National Hockey League career with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1932. general manager of BT's broadband platform. "Its deployment will reduce fault identification and handling times and help BT improve service to its wholesale broadband service provider An ISP, telephone company, cable company or other carrier that offers high-speed communications to homes and businesses, typically for Internet access. Cable modems, DSL and T1 lines are the common technologies. See broadband, cable modem, DSL and T1. customers, and ultimately to the business or domestic end users of DSL services." The Acterna DSL Test Solution was selected for a number of technical innovations, its small footprint and ease of use. BT will save considerable operational costs in delivering ADSL See DSL. ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line and G.SHDSL A DSL technology from the ITU (G.991.2) that provides symmetric transmission from 192 Kbps to 2.3 Mbps using a single copper pair, depending on distance from the central office (from 20,000 ft. to 6,500 ft.). With two wire pairs, 384 Kbps to 4.6 Mbps can be achieved. G. services by using the numerous features of the Acterna DSL Test Solution to significantly reduce the number of trouble tickets by identifying correctly the source of the fault (ISP, End User or BT) - fixing quickly network problems and reducing the number of handoffs to the field. BT will use also the Acterna DSL Test Solution to streamline its provisioning process and accelerate revenue recognition of new services as delivered. This will eliminate time-consuming processes for field technicians by scheduling automated tests and reports. BT's purchase of the Acterna DSL Test Solution comes at a critical period of growth in the global DSL marketplace. With more than 100 ADSL providers retailing BT's wholesale ADSL products, and cable companies owning approximately 50 percent market share, the UK is the most competitive broadband market in the world. And, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a recent study by the Yankee Group (the Yankee Group, Boston, MA, www.yankeegroup.com) A major market research, analysis and consulting firm founded in 1970 by Howard Anderson. It provides general consulting and strategic planning in the computer and communications field. , BT was considered the most innovative telecommunications company See telecom company. in the EU thanks largely to its approach to delivering rural broadband. "BT required a test solution that could serve its extensive geographic reach and support its field engineers by reducing unnecessary site visits," said Acterna's Helmut Berg, president of Acterna's Telecom Division. "Acterna's DSL Test Solution is the first of its kind that can help reduce reaction time and operational costs and improve the customer experience - all without impacting the carrier's ability to continue service to its customers." Acterna's DSL Test Solution provides an intelligent and flexible solution that is interoperable with the digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAM's) currently in use by BT (Alcatel and Fujitsu) and the Test Access Matrix (TAM) from UTEL in the UK. The QT200 Test Head also includes some critical innovations and three patents (one developed with a partner) - all capable of testing a range of services. Due to the small footprint of the Acterna QT200 Test Head no additional rack space is required - the QT200 can be installed in the DSLAM (DSL Access Multiplexor) A central office (CO) device for ADSL service that intermixes voice traffic and DSL traffic onto a customer's DSL line. It also separates incoming phone and data signals and directs them onto the appropriate carrier's network. See DSL. or TAM racks saving BT additional costs. About BT BT Group plc is the listed holding company for an integrated group of businesses providing voice and data services in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. British Telecommunications plc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group, holds virtually all businesses and assets of the BT group. BT is one of Europe's leading providers of telecommunications services. Its principal activities include local, national and international telecommunications services, higher-value broadband and internet products and services, and IT solutions. In the UK, BT serves over 20 million business and residential customers with more than 29 million exchange lines, as well as providing network services to other licensed operators. BT consists principally of three lines of business: -- BT Retail, serving businesses and residential customers and including BT Openworld, one of the UK's leading ISPs. -- BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK, including ADSL, conveyance, transit, bulk delivery of private circuits, frame relay and ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. connections. -- BT Global Services, BT's managed services and solutions provider, serving multi-site organisations worldwide. Its core target market is the top 10,000 global multi-site organisations with European operations. There are a number of other businesses within the BT group, including BT Exact, an internationally renowned centre of excellence in IT and networking technologies. It is also BT's technology and research and development business. In the year ended 31 March 2003, BT's turnover was GBP 18,727m. with profit before taxation of GBP 1,829m. For more information, visit www.bt.com. About Acterna Acterna (ACTRQ.OB) is the world's largest provider of test and management solutions for optical transport, access and cable networks, and the second largest communications test company overall. Focused entirely on providing equipment, software, systems and services, Acterna helps customers develop, install, manufacture and maintain their optical transport, access, cable, data/IP and wireless networks. The company serves customers in more than 80 countries. Acterna is a subsidiary of Acterna Corporation. Information about Acterna can be found on the Web at www.acterna.com. (1) Note to editors: U.S. dollars conversion based upon Financial Times rate 4 September 2003. |
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