BANGALORE: Telecom major British Telecom (BT) has announced further investment in Asia Pacific of approximately $48 million. The investment focuses on key IP platforms and the transfer of services on to an integrated platform for voice, video and data. The enhancements are already underway, with expected completion this year.

BT in Asia Pacific president Allen Ma said: "In 2003, we began rebuilding BT's network in Asia Pacific. The strategy moving ahead is in tune with BT's 21st century network (21CN) implementation and timetable, and will allow us to integrate domestic and international voice capacity across nine countries in this region."

The investment is being driven by BT customers in Asia Pacific. The upgrade results in providing a single interface to customers, with high quality voice capabilities over the dedicated IP infrastructure, states an official release.

Ma added: "In this way, BT is converging the user environment to support diverging user groups. This convergence both improves our cost model and enhances our domestic capabilities."

Additionally, BT is increasing its direct coverage to 13 countries and 30 cities with its own infrastructure across Asia Pacific, with reach also increased to over 50 cities. BT delivers services to multinational organisations in 115 countries across the globe. The core subsea backbone operated by BT which supports its harmonised portfolio is also being upgraded from 300 Mb/s to 1.5 Gb/s following the growth of over 400 per cent in traffic to and from Europe and the US and within Asia Pacific in the past two years. Network paths added include from Hong Kong to Europe, from Singapore to the US, and between London and Singapore, the release adds.

"Taking this strategy strengthens BT in the market for the delivery of global networked IT services. It also positions BT in Asia Pacific as a leading global player and as a regional competitor within the industry in both data and voice. Both are core areas in which our customers are asking us to perform," Ma added.

The implementation of a new voice platform which will support the convergence for the wholesale, corporate and video segments will begin in June 2005. The installation of the new voice platform for an integrated international and domestic offering is progressing on schedule for Bangalore, Delhi, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei and Tokyo.

New MPLS node locations to be added in 2005 include: Auckland, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Melbourne and Osaka. Additional nodes are being added to Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei.