ISP BT Speeds Up New UK Broadband Provisions via Automation

The BT Group has moved to simplify and speed up the delivery of its network services to customers (orders etc.) by adopting Ciena’s Blue Planet automation system, which essentially replaces half a dozen of their legacy systems and processes with more digital automation.

What this means in practice is that when, for example, a customer hits “buy” on a new broadband product, the design, configuration and activation of network services, from local network through to BT’s 21C core network, to Openreach systems and the wider internet, will be automated by the new platform. Similarly, if changes are made in service, the platform can streamline the process of implementing those adjustments, adding new capacity, lines or capabilities dynamically.

The move is expected to reduce costs, complexity and improve customer experience with services going live quicker, while also reducing Openreach’s engineering effort and helping to speed new service propositions. But sadly, BT hasn’t given any practical figures to show how much of an impact this is having, although it’s likely to be something that will be of most benefit to complex business provisions and upgrades.

Furthermore, the somewhat cloud-native approach to service order management and orchestration is said to adhere to the TM Forum Open Digital Architecture. This also makes it easier for BT to manage fault discovery and self-healing, which is another bonus of the change.

Josie Smith, Chief Architect, Digital at BT Group, said:

“Using strategic technology systems to boost customer experience is a key goal of our modernisation programme. Automation, simplification and consolidation is a key route through which we will unlock productivity and speed. With Blue Planet’s help, we are cutting legacy costs and processes and speeding time to market across our businesses.”

The new systems are already said to be “in production” within BT Group’s Consumer business, where they are currently orchestrating the delivery of EE’s Fibre broadband services to homes. On the flip side, we suspect that greater automation could also shrink the operator’s staffing requirements, since fewer people may be needed to do the same work.