BT has signed a contract with Novell to manage the digital profiles and identities of customers of its next generation 21st century network (21CN) ensuring secure access.

The Novell directory and identity technology, based on its identity manager and  eDirectory software, will be used to build the profile capability of 21CN, and provide  common identity information required to integrate voice, data, broadband, mobility, on-demand video and ICT services.

It will help BT quickly and seamlessly provide new services, reduce systems administration and improve customer satisfaction.

Customers will be securely authenticated across 21CN for existing applications and services and in the future they will have the ability to access a broader range of services, including video telephony, video on demand, WiFi access and corporate VNP access.

Mike Galvin, director of portfolio infrastructure, BT Group, says the technology will help with the radical 21CN transformation programme.

‘We are moving our business model from managing multiple networks to a single network delivering multiple services. We are already using Novell’s identity management capabilities for our corporate meta directory services. It’s a proven solution that we knew could scale to the extremes required for a customer facing profile store,’ he said.

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