Business type

Open Business

Service/product description

The 21st Century Network (21CN) programme is the network transformation project of the UK telecommunications company BT Group plc. It will see the UK incumbent’s telephone network move from the present AXE/System X Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to an Internet Protocol (IP) system. As well as switching over the PSTN, BT has revealed plans to deliver many additional services over their new network, such as on-demand interactive TV services.

What does 'openness' mean in this case?

They are moving from proprietary telephone lines, to new IP communication lines. This will bring about further advances in the world of open source technology as more people get access to the internet through the integrated communications systems.