SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
28 April 2005
BT Group plc
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
BT Centre
81 Newgate Street
London
EC1A 7AJ
England
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X... Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No ..X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Enclosures: 1. 21CN Network Suppliers announcement made on 28 April 2005
DC05-255
April 28th, 2005
BT ANNOUNCES PREFERRED SUPPLIERS
FOR 21st CENTURY NETWORK PROGRAMME
BT today took a major step towards delivering its 21st Century Network with the
selection of its preferred suppliers. The 21st Century Network is the world's
most radical next generation network transformation programme. It will require
an investment by BT of up to GBP10 billion over the next five years and will put
the UK at the cutting edge of innovation, providing industry with a real
competitive advantage, and consumers with a world-class communication service
for the 21st Century.
The announcement is the culmination of two years of discussions and negotiations
with over 300 potential technology suppliers from all corners of the world. This
is has been an extremely competitive process in what is one of the largest
single procurement programmes ever undertaken in the communications industry.
A final list of eight preferred suppliers has been chosen to work with BT in
five strategic domains:
1. Fujitsu and Huawei have been chosen in the access domain which will link
BT's existing access network with the new 21CN.
2. Alcatel, Cisco and Siemens have been selected as preferred suppliers for
metro nodes which provide routing and signalling for 21CN's voice, data
and video services.
3. Cisco and Lucent will be 21CN's preferred suppliers for core nodes
providing high capacity and cost efficient connections between metro
nodes.
4. Ericsson has been selected in the i-node domain - in essence the
intelligence that controls the services.
5. Ciena and Huawei have been chosen in the transmission domain to supply
the optical electronics that will convert the signals carried at high
capacity over the cables connecting the metro and core nodes.
The selection of these eight suppliers will allow dozens of smaller and
innovative subcontractors to become involved in the delivery of the 21st Century
Network. The programme will attract significant new investment and employment to
the UK.
Matt Bross, BT Group's chief technology officer said: "The capability that BT is
putting in place through this investment in 21CN is unequalled anywhere in the
world. It will enable us to introduce new services at a speed that is simply
impossible today."
Paul Reynolds, BT Wholesale chief executive, the BT Board member responsible for
the programme, added: "21 CN is a key infrastructure that will fuel the UK
economy and provide a flexible way for consumers to use new services. The
selection of the preferred suppliers is an incredibly important building block
towards that vision. 21CN will also radically reduce BT's cost base, with
identified savings of around one billion pounds a year."
In order to achieve world class delivery of the programme, the selection of
suppliers has been about much more than choosing technology and selecting
partners. The commercial agreements, which the company expects to conclude over
the summer, will include open standards and a focus on whole life costs.
-ends-
Inquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its
24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All
news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre
Notes to editors
Preferred suppliers have been chosen across each of five strategic domains. The
domains are access, metro, core, i-nodes, transmissions.
Access Metro Core I-Nodes Transmission
Fujitsu Alcatel Cisco Ericsson Ciena
Huawei Cisco Lucent Huawei
Siemens
-Access - the access domain in this context is the aggregation equipment
(multi-service access node - MSANs) which will link BT's existing access
network, initially carrying voice and data services from end users on to the
21CN core IP based network.
-Metro nodes provide the routing and signalling functions for the unified
21CN network for voice, data and video.
-Core nodes are the high capacity, large scale routers providing cost
efficient connections between metro nodes.
-i-node is where the service execution functionality is located - in
essence the intelligence that controls services. In the 21CN context, this
includes soft switches, network intelligence and bandwidth management
capabilities.
-Transmission includes the optical fibre transport infrastructure that
connects all nodes in 21CN but also the electronics that converts the
signals carried at high capacity over the cables connecting the MSANs, metro
and core nodes. Much of the optical fibre infrastructure is already in place
and today we are announcing the preferred suppliers for the optical
electronics.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions serving
customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Its principal activities
include IT and networking services, local, national and international
telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products
and services.
BT consists principally of three lines of business:
-BT Retail, providing a comprehensive range of communications and related
services to more than 20m UK consumers and businesses.
-BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK to
more than 600 fixed and mobile operators and service providers including the
provision of broadband and private circuits.
-BT Global Services, providing IT and networking services to meet the
needs of multi-site organisations globally. BT Global Services operates in
more than 130 countries and also offers international carrier services.
In the year ended 31 March 2004, BT Group's turnover was GBP18,519 million with
profit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation of GBP2,013
million.
BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. British
Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and
encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BT Group PLC
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Patricia Day
--------------------
Patricia Day, Assistant Secretary. Head of Shareholder Services
Date: 28 April 2005