THE NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM...An Update

What's happening to our telephone system?

In April 1993, the College placed a contract with Ericsson Ltd for the supply of a new digital telephone exchange and the total re-cabling of all buildings on the South Kensington site.

Work started on cabling in May 1993 and the new system was ready for service on 29 April 1994. It can now be used for internal calls and incoming calls to DDI extensions i.e. those new extensions that start with a '4' (see below).

The new system will run in parallel with the old for eight weeks to allow for familiiarisation, testing and user training. The new system will be brought into full operation on Saturday 25 June and the old system decommissioned. Until 24 June all calls to the College Switchboard on 589 5111 will be received on the old system and all outgoing external calls will continue to be made on the old system. From 25 June 589 5111 will be received on the new system and the lines will be opened for outgoing traffic. Although this may seem a long time before the new system is fully operational it is essential for training full testing of all equipment and correcting any teething problems. A full continuation of service cannot be guaranteed and some minor interruptions to service may be necessary.

During the parallel running period staff will have both the new and old handsets on their desks and will be encouraged to use the new system for internal calling and make use of their DDI facility. It will not be possible to make a call from a new extension to an old one. The new system will be brought into service with over 3800 extensions, 800 more than currently exist with significant growth potential for the future.

What type of extension do you have?

The new five-digit extension numbers will commence with a 4 or a 5. If your number begins with a 4, you have a DDI facility and external callers can dial you direct to the desk bypsssing the telephone operator. To use this facility you must prefix your number with 0171 59. So, for example, if your extension is 48000 then external callers can reach you by dialling 0171 594 8000. However, if your number begins with a 5 you do not have this facility and external callers can only contact you via the operator on 0171 589 5111. Each department appointed a representative to assign extension numbers, user facilities and provide information for the new telephone directory.

The now telephone directory will be available next month and is designed as an interim measure for the new system and to see us through the following six months. A directory will continue to be compiled throughout the summer to take account of all the moves and changes that will take place. When the directory is distributed if your entry is missing or incorrect please let the Switchboard Supervisor, on 49897, know as well as your departmental representative.

PHONEDAY - National Code Change. What's it all about?

The national code change day is on 16 April 1995. This is the day that the whole country will have the digit 1 placed after the leading zero in all dialling codes e.g. 071 will become 0171. In actual fact BT have said that the new London codes wlll be operational in mid-June of this year with official parallel running of both old and new STD codes starting on 1 Auust 1994. Due to lack of available telephone numbers, six cities are being given new codes and the international access code will change from 010... to 00 in line with most European countries. It is probably better to assume that the new codes are effective from August this year and remember that 16 April 1995 is the day that the old codes stop working. This is an important point to note if you publish existing DDI numbers on literature, stationary etc. Therfore any advance literature, publications. stationery etc. could accomodate any of the new DDI numbers and the national code change to avoid the need to change these twice.

If in doubt dial the old codes until 1st August 1994.

Summary

DDI Extns.
        National Code           DDI Prefx          Extn  Number
             0171                 59                 4----

Operational from 29 April 1994.

If in doubt dial the old national codes until 1st August 1994
but use new code in literature.


Other Extns
        0171 589 5111                                5----
Operational from 25 June 1994 

Dates

29 April 1994  Two phones for most users,   Existing   All outgoing calls, all
                                                       internal calls and
                                                       incoming calls from
                                                       switchboard.

                                            New Extns  Internal calls to other
					               new extensions and
						       incoming calls via new
						       DDI numbers.

25 June 1994   Old telephone system turned off.  New system fully operational
               for all types of calls using the new telephones.

If you have any queries now please contact the Telecom Project Office on extension 55555 or old extn 8582.