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21CN

BT’s proposed switch to a digital network for its entire telephony business – known as 21CN – presents challenges to a number of industries, not least the electronic security industry. Many security systems are dependent upon the telecoms infrastructure for remote signalling, and by far the hardest hit will the be intruder alarm sector. There is much anguish about the change, but is the industry missing an opportunity to take a step forward with regard to security, whilst also enhancing profits at the same time?

For many in the intruder alarm sector, 21CN represents a headache, another problem that needs to be addressed, but need this be the case? In reality, it could represent an opportunity whereby the industry can drive quality upwards, as well as enhancing the overall level of protection offered to customers.

A percentage (figures ranging from 40 per cent to 70 per cent have been bandied around) of digital communicators could fail in the field. This is based upon testing carried out under controlled circumstances. The truth is that no one really knows what might happen in the real world, because the exercise is still at a very early stage. However, as an industry we do know one thing; most systems affected will be single path ones, and single path signalling is not as secure as dual path signalling.

During the implementation of 21CN, there will be times when the existing PSTN communications link suffers interruptions. These events will be received by the ARC as communications failures (where such signalling can be achieved), or the system will simply be lost to the monitoring operation. No one is currently sure how this issue will be addressed. However, with a dual signalling product, the system will at least retain one path of connectivity.

There are also side-benefits, depending upon which technologies are used for the signalling paths. For example, where broadband is used as one of the paths, the cost of calls (including opening and closing calls) will be eliminated. If IP is not the preferred option, then a dial-up link can still be retained.

Upgrades can ensure compatibility with 21CN, increase the security of the system by introducing dual path signalling, and could potentially save money by taking advantage of new technologies and their inherent cost savings. The need for these upgrades is out of the hands of the customer and the security installer. It’s BT's change that makes the upgrade required.

The outcome will be a more secure system that addresses whatever 21CN might create in the way of disruption. The options for dual path signalling have never been so diverse, and as a result costs for such an option have tumbled. In many cases, the upgrade may well cost less than the communicator being replaced did in the first place!

This isn’t about twisting a customer’s arm to grudgingly hand over more money; this is about enhancing the level of protection on offer and potentially reducing the cost of ownership for a small investment. This is about turning a negative – introduced by a third party – into a positive for all concerned!

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