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Resilient Telecommunications

Enhancing the resilience of communications

Privileged access to fixed telecommunications networks

Currently privileged access to fixed-line telecommunications is managed by BT plc and Cable and Wireless plc through the Government Telephone Preference Scheme, or GTPS. GTPS has been used very rarely, largely as a consequence of the draconian consequences of invocation (unregistered customers are cut off including 999 / 112 access). As a consequence, it would appear unwise for responders to rely on GTPS as the cornerstone for providing resilient telecommunications.

The core telecommunications networks in the UK are about to be completely overhauled and all the existing services converged using the technology that forms the foundations for the Internet. These networks are referred to as 'next generation networks' or NGNs. Testing of BT's NGN has commenced with a pilot in south Wales. This is likely to be expanded to cover the Cardiff area in July 2007, with the wider national roll-out expected to start in January 2008. The whole of the UK is due to be converted by 2011. For further details of BT's NGN visit their site [External website]. The new networks will support an enhanced preference scheme that will prevent congestion affecting registered users.

In view of the gradual removal of the old networks, over which the existing scheme works, we are not encouraging further take-up of GTPS. The new scheme will be called the fixed telecommunications Privileged Access Scheme, or FTPAS. FTPAS will be made available as the new networks are rolled-out.