BT's 21CN and Your Alarm Monitoring

If you have a monitored alarm technique more than a British Telecom landline then you should really comprehend the consequences of sending signals more than the new 21CN network. 21CN is not analogue like your current BT landline, rather it is digital and uses an Internet Protocol (IP) as its base protocol. On top rated of that, it makes use of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) which is the exact same protocol utilized by most Voice over IP network providers. It stands to reason that the 21CN network will suffer lots of of the same difficulties as alarm systems have suffered for a number of years attempting to send signals over networks of 3rd party VoIP providers.

However, most Alarm Companies are holding back to find out just how much their Customers systems will be affected by 21CN. As BT clarify in their 21CN Trials document, the problem is not just with their new network. Carrier Pre-Choose and nearby loop unbundling means that an rising quantity of core networks from other Telco's that are utilized for the transmission of alarm signals will be VoIP (Voice over Online Protocol) - commonly with no the expertise of the Alarm Installation Provider or the Consumer.

History has confirmed that alarm panel modems and digital communicators are unable to reliably transmit their signals more than a VoIP network. 21CN may permit consistent outcomes early on, but will begin to suffer way more as time goes by as escalating numbers of users put the network under load. As a substantial quantity of Buyers currently have an Net connection readily available, it tends to make sense to tackle the concern now rather than wait for expensive failures in communication.

One problem is that BT will not acknowledge the truth that there are likely to be many problems in the area of alarm monitoring, yet, other 21CN documents seem to contradict that view, which has led to a lot of confusion within the security alarm market.

In 2007 BT told us there would be no concerns with alarms signalling over 21CN. In 2008 we had been told "The systems will be 'groomed out' of the 21CN Cardiff trial as a result of perform undertaken by the British Security Industry Association."

In April 2009 BSIA published the BT 21CN test program. The test program has been put together after almost two years of development by the BSIA and its members including substantial testing of systems on the 21st Century Network at BT's facilities at Adastral Park and Swansea. The main causes for concern were:

Echo cancellation always used unless high-speed fax or modems are detected

Audio path discontinuities will happen when jitter buffer lengths adjust, either throughout a voice call or when modems or faxes are detected.

Prospective enhance to round trip delay

The test plan goes on to state "Please note: Any outcomes obtained from testing will not guarantee that CPE (consumer premises gear) will operate on BT's 21CN network".

So, with information like that from BT and your Alarm Company with their head in the sand, you would be nicely advised to do your own research and seek out Alarm Corporations and Monitoring Centres that take the issue a small extra seriously.