Siemens is delivering its own Surpass hiG 1200 media gateway and Surpass hiD Ethernet switch, the latter being an edge aggregation product that comes from its Seabridge Ltd. division. In addition it has an integration and network services team that will work with BT and the other preferred vendors. "I've been amazed at the level of cooperation between the 21CN vendors," says Harvey.

As previously announced, Siemens is also delivering various Juniper routers, with the M320 multiservice edge router playing a significant role. (See Juniper Details 21CN Involvement.)

In addition, though, Siemens is also delivering the session border controller products that Juniper now owns following its acquisition of Kagoor Networks, and some network security technology from Juniper's NetScreen business. (See Juniper to Acquire Kagoor, Juniper Buys NetScreen, and Juniper Hatches the M320.)

Juniper is also playing a major role in the core network part of the 21CN project, again through a partner in the form of {dirlink 2|94} (NYSE: LU). Harvey notes that Siemens has already provided a number of Juniper M320 routers to BT's Broadcast Networks business. (See BT's 21CN Deals: Booty or Bloody? and BT Builds IP Broadcast Net With Juniper.)

IP Unity is Siemens' media server partner in the BT project, which should come as no surprise. Siemens Venture Capital (SVC) is one of 10 investors in IP Unity, and Siemens has identified the firm as a close partner in the past. (See Siemens Gets Closer to Gen Band, IPUnity Enhances Media Server, and Siemens Funds IP Unity.)

IP Unity is more shy than Siemens about the BT engagement and declined to comment. The company has been picking up steady business in the carrier market in the past year or so and is busy developing its IMS roadmap. (See IP Unity Names Customers, Telekom Malaysia Picks IP Unity, IP Unity Wins KMS Deal, and IP Unity Touts Compliance .)

Traffic management vendor Allot confirmed its role as a Siemens 21CN partner, but couldn't provide any further detail at this time. The company's policy-based traffic and network monitoring technology enables carriers to develop services that require bandwidth management capabilities, and will help enable quality of service (QOS) capabilities and help protect customers from security threats. (See Allot Strengthens Carrier Products and Allot Touts Customers.)

Dorado's software is essentially an enhanced element management system (EMS) designed to help the management of Juniper routers, says Siemens' Harvey, though it can also be used to manage Cisco equipment. Dorado is one of the emerging stars of the OSS sector, according to a Heavy Reading OSS market perception report published earlier this year. (See Report: OSS Minnows Have Muscle.) Dorado declined to comment.