BT Announces New Software-Defined Network Capability For The Age Of The Cloud

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BT today announced the global launch of BT Connect Intelligence IWAN, an innovative managed service that enables organizations to automatically route and optimize network traffic and gain visibility of applications performance without spending more on bandwidth. BT Connect Intelligence IWAN integrates the Cisco Intelligent WAN (IWAN) solution into the BT Connect portfolio of network services.

The new launch builds on BT's existing intelligent network capabilities by using a hybrid environment and managed Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) technology. It brings new options to reduce the cost of customers' networks whilst securing the performance of applications. 

The services offered as part of Connect Intelligence IWAN also help customers reap the business benefits of the 'Cloud of Clouds'[1] by taking advantage of broader virtualized functions such as application performance management and security.

Walgreens Boots Alliance's businesses in the UK and in around 20 other countries are set to be some of the first BT Connect Intelligence IWAN customers, taking advantage of the service's reach and scalability to support their international operations.

The first version of Connect Intelligence IWAN will bring the following benefits to BT customers:

• Virtual Private Network (VPN) capabilities across globally dispersed sites and different transport technologies. This enables organizations to reduce costs by securely interconnecting remote sites over hybrid network options, such as MPLS VPNs, private and public internet, and mobile, and to transfer information using powerful encryption technology;
• Applications are routed across the best path in the customer's hybrid network, based on real-time network performance;
• Faster performance for applications, which will improve productivity and user experience. It will also identify underperforming business processes. This includes acceleration of web based traffic such as online catalogues shown to customers in retail stores, or access to employee training videos;
• Enhanced application visibility and analytics, available via centralized, user friendly reporting, which gives customers deep insight into their application and network performance. This will also allow BT to enhance its monitoring and incident management service to customers.

In addition, BT offers customers a fully managed IWAN service which includes comprehensive design, set-up and configuration. It also includes monthly reports from an Application Specialist on how their network and applications are performing, with recommendations on how to improve performance.

BT sees IWAN as one of the key stepping stones for customers when transitioning to future Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and SDN capabilities.  BT is also working to provide customers with a comprehensive self-service capability to control their SD-WAN via BT's My Account portal.

Keith Langridge, vice president of network services, BT Global Services said: "BT has been leading the research into emerging virtualization technologies from the beginning. For years, we have also been adding 'intelligence' to the network services we provide to our customers. NFV and SDN are part of that drive, and aim at making those services more dynamic and automated. They pave the way for a new generation of services that are quicker and easier to set up and change. BT Connect Intelligence IWAN leverages the Cisco IWAN solution to bring an important new building block in that virtualization effort. It will help our customers all over the world deal much more effectively with ever increasing bandwidth and traffic optimization demands, allowing customers to network like never before."

Joel Stradling, Research Director, Business Network & IT Services, Current Analysis, said: "The integration of Cisco IWAN into BT Global Services' Connect range advances the service provider's SD-WAN message. BT can leverage new management features built into Cisco IWAN that blend compelling functions, such as dynamic traffic routing on hybrid VPNs, intelligent path control, agility in layering on virtualized network functions, and cost-savings on Internet bandwidth. Offering Cisco IWAN globally gives BT a head start over its rivals."

BT and Cisco have been marketing and selling[2] the managed solution to their respective enterprise customer bases in the UK, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa and Latin America since December 2015. Customers with the right hardware will be able to enjoy a free 90-day trial of Connect Intelligence IWAN's application visibility service in the near future.

About BT

BT's purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world.  It is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of five customer-facing lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2015, BT Group's reported revenue was £17,979m with reported profit before taxation of £2,645m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com.

[1] BT's Cloud of Clouds vision is about empowering customers, regardless of where they are based, to connect easily and securely to the applications and data they need, regardless of where they are hosted. Click here for more information on the Cloud of Clouds.

[2] New and innovative pricing models are being worked on by BT and Cisco. They will become available later this year.

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SOURCE BT

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