Oftel 50 Ludgate Hill London EC4M 7JJ 10.30am 24 October 2002

Attendees

Company Participant

BT Wholesale Beatrice Osborn
BT Directories Ian Watson
BT Retail Sarah Jefferson
Cable & Wireless John Bailey
Centrica Nick Turley
Context Connect Sunny Ahn
Context Connect Les Oliver
DIEL Bob Twitchin
E-Guide Murray McPherson
Eircom Nick Winton
Energis Karen Hardy
ICSTIS Paul Whiteing
Kingston Lesa Green
Kingston Nancy Cox
Ntl Tracy Fenton
Oftel Caroline Wallace
Oftel Alex Campbell
O2(UK) Steve Evans
O2(UK) Jason Turner
Smile Telecom Liam Stapleton
Telegate Dirk Amtsberg
Telegate Andy Holliday
Telewest Andrew Wileman
The Number Nik Hole
Thomson Directories Patrick Bradshaw
Thus Jon Wood
Vodafone Andrew Gorton
Yell Malcolm Green
118UK Tom Hickey
192.COM Dominic Blackburn

Apologies

Cable & Wireless Phillip Cheal
Centrica Bill Byrne
E-Guide Isabel Mason
Thomson Directories Jane Byrne
T-mobile Gulistan Moledina
Tweedwind Alex Jennings

Documents distributed prior to the meeting

Agenda, Minutes of the previous meeting, Project plan version 2.1

1. Introductions and apologies

Caroline Wallace opened the meeting and all present introduced themselves. An attendance sheet was circulated and is reproduced above.

2. Minutes of previous meeting (26 September 2002)

Minor amendments were requested:

On AP6.5 Number Portability (page 2), the draft process should be distributed to the Operators Numbering Group

Text under the Embargo Date (page 7) should be amended to reflect that there should be no promotion of 118 codes until they are able to be dialled (which should be read in conjunction with the embargo deadline of midnight 9 December).

Otherwise the minutes were accepted.

3. Text Services and 118 DQ Services

Michael Day (Technical Manager, BT Age & Disability Action Team) gave a presentation on text services and a general discussion followed.

DQSPs wished to know how much the TextDirect services would cost eg for automatic diversion, and who they should contact if they wished to obtain these services?

MD noted that there is currently no Product Manager for TextDirect at the moment. Although an interconnect variant of these services exists, there is currently no retail variant. Interested DQSPs could contact MD in the first instance.

CW outlined that DQSPs should consider the following:

1. which of the options for handling text calls (as outlined in MD’s presentation) they wanted to implement (these options are: a dedicated text phone access number, using a standard number diverted to a trained text phone team, using a standard number diverted to a trained voice team, or just having a standard number come into a call centre generally)
2. approaching their hosting Annex II operator about what is available from the host operator
3. approaching BT (via MD) about availability of TextDirect.

BT(DIEL) asked for clarification about call completion issues.

MD responded that this would depend on the capability of the switches used by DQSPs.

MG(Yell) asked what specific rules Oftel had in relation to services for people with disabilities?

FP(Oftel) responded that companies providing Fixed Publicly Available Telephone Services must make available directory enquiries and onward call connection for people with disabilities, and access to text relay with call progress announcements (with is de facto TextDirect). FP also noted the existence of the Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Rights Commission. In particular, FP noted that the DRC carried a Code of Practice for service providers on its web site (www.drc-gb.org), which dealt with such key concepts from the Act as what might constitute unfavourable treatment and reasonable adjustments that should be made.

4. ICSTIS

Paul Whiteing advised the IWG on the following key matters:

1. All operators terminating controlled PRS (which includes 118 DQ) must have a contract in place with ICSTIS before either they or their service provider(s) can offer 118 DQ services; and

2. ICSTIS has been ready to receive prior permission applications for 118 DQ services from 1 October, but to date not many applications have been received. Awareness was raised that applications must be submitted to ICSTIS by 15^th November to ensure launch of individual services on 10 December.

It was suggested by BT that ICSTIS might be able to perform the function of gathering together all of the complaint / refund details that had recently been requested of all DQ SPs. Vodafone re-iterated their request for high-level complaint details and telephone contact information to be submitted to them by 25 October.

Tracy Fenton (NTL) advised the group that detailed information would be required by NTL from all DQ SPs on their complaints, refunds and quality of service procedures in excess of that required from Vodafone and T-Mobile. A discussion then took place as to why NTL were seeking to acquire detailed quality of service documentation for 118 DQ services that was more than that required for PRS services delivered over their network.

It was agreed that ICSTIS would not be able to perform the proposed complaint and refund information collation as there were differing requirements from NTL and Vodafone / T-Mobile (and possibly other operators). Industry-wide emails would have to continue to be used instead.

NTL advised the group that the basis for their request was to ensure that only services with satisfactory quality of service procedures were available to NTL customers. Various attendees expressed concern with the NTL information requirement and the potential that DQ SPs would have to agree quality of service contracts with all originating operators. Concern was expressed as to why NTL was only targeting DQ in this way.

NTL subsequently advised that their requirement for detailed quality of service documentation only applied to DQ SPs with whom they have no existing interconnect relationship.

Oftel requested that the DQ IWG mail list could be used with regard to requests and responses regarding quality of service information (although operators may also wish to use other channels as well, and if so, requests could be copied to the DQ-IWG). A request was made by Oftel for good communication between all members of the DQ IWG to ensure that appropriate information was provided by all parties. Nik Hole (The Number) requested that all operators should notify DQ SPs as quickly as possible where additional quality of service information was required (and where DQSP’s proposals were not acceptable to operators), in order to prevent any delay in launch to DQ services.

5. Action point review and matters arising not addressed elsewhere

AP 6.5 Number Portability

Lesa Green (Kingston) advised that the draft transfer document has been sent to all transfer contacts on the OG Numbering Group and a few minor amends were required before the document could be finalised. The draft document covers transfers between interconnected operators, but could be used for guidance purposes where no interconnection is in place. There is a meeting on 26 November to finalise the document.

TH asked if the document could be circulated to the DQ-IWG. LG explained that, as it was still at a draft stage, it would be better to wait until the document had been finalised on 26 November before it was circulated to this group. However, TF (NTL) volunteered to give a presentation on the proposed process at the next DQ-IWG meeting.

AP 12.3 118 Calls on end-user bills

All DQ SPs are asked to provide Oftel with details of how 118 calls will appear on their customer bills. This information is asked to be provided by 31 October. ICSTIS asked the group if they would consider including a reference to ICSTIS on their customer bills, as BT had agreed to do this to help raise consumer awareness to the role and support of ICSTIS.

6. Network messaging

AP 11.1 invitation to join the network messaging group

AP 12.1 contact names to be supplied to TH

Tom Hickey advised that a potential suppliers list had been put together, but that no details of contacts for operators outside of the original network messaging group had been received. TH clarified that both originating and terminating operators were welcome to be part of the group.

AP 12.2 Operator’s Group to be informed of Oftel’s view

AP12.2

Tracy Fenton (ntl) & Lesa Green (Kingston)

To take Oftel’s network messaging views to the Operators’ Group.

Discharged

Caroline Wallace advised that the way forward on network messaging is clear. Any proposal that is put to Oftel will be considered further on the basis of how consumer friendly, pro-competitive and practical it is. Any changes would need a public consultation and subsequent change to the Specified Numbering Scheme and/or the Numbering Conventions. Oftel will consider proposals submitted by any group with regard to network messaging.

Tom Hickey advised that the network messaging group had put together a list of people who might be interested in supplying a messaging solution. This was sent out on 13 October and passed to the DQ IWG mailing list on 16 October for further contacts to be identified. Responses to the messaging proposal are required by 8 November. The network messaging group plan to submit a proposal to Oftel by the end of the year.

Tom advised that Dave Campbell of Conduit can provide time to pull this project together. This will include contacting network operators for their feedback, which may involve contacts being made to a sample of operators by type.

7. Phonebook insert proposal

Ian Watson (BT) advised the Group that a small editorial team had been formed by BT to discuss the 118 insert. There would be a meeting with the external agency on 4 November. This would be the first meeting to discuss the design and content of the insert.

BT will cover the distribution costs of the insert but not the production costs. The editorial team consists of an OLO, BT and DQ SPs. The total estimated cost to the industry of the insert will be approximately £125K per quarter and the more companies that participate with the insert proposal, the cheaper the individual costs will be. The insert will have an 18-month life and the closing date for SPs to express an intent to participate on the leaflet scheme will be announced soon.

Ian advised that circulation of the leaflet may begin during Q1 2003. However, Dirk Amtsberg advised that timing is the key for the insert to be a success and that it was important that circulation of the insert should commence as shortly after 10 December as possible. DA noted that he understood that the London phonebooks were due to be distributed early in 2003.

Alex Campbell of Oftel asked whether the web site associated with the leaflet could be ready to go earlier. IW responded that it was likely that the web site would be available in the same time frame as the leaflet. Oftel also advised that they will have some 118 material on their website to advise consumers on the new 118 numbers by 10 December.

8. Charge notifications

BT/KC advised the group that their residential customer charge notifications will be sent out to their customer base in a non-discriminatory way, without any reference to specific 118 codes. BT noted that the regulatory charge notification which will involve the BT pricelist being updated on the website will include a list of 118 numbers linked to their tariff bands, and then in a separate part of the list, the tariff band will be linked to the actual retail price. For BT’s own 118 numbers, there will be a URL link to BT’s terms and conditions.

9. Report back from Billing & Interconnection sub-group

10. Report back from Phase 2 billing sub-group

These items were covered as one report.

Dirk Amtsberg reported on the last meeting which focussed on billing solutions for phase 2. It was reported that Argensys is working with the group. It was identified that there is a requirement for an online and offline billing solution.

Dirk reported that mobile operators are needed to provide input for a specific phase 2 billing solution to be developed.

Dirk also noted that BT has sent out pricing letters to OLOs setting out the POLOs for BT to originate 118 traffic to other operators. The deadline for signing these letters had now passed.

There had been an Industry workshop with BT and Oftel on 17^th October to discuss BT’s POLO proposals. As a result, there had been a number of questions to which BT had agreed to provide answers. BT had now provided those answers, and Paul Hanson (BT) will provide an update on pricing at the B&I meeting to be held after this meeting. BT also advised that the carrier price list would be published w/c 28 October (1/2 days later than the project plan milestone, but not felt to be material)..

11. Report Back from Consumer Issues Sub-group

There has been no meeting since the last IWG
The next meeting is scheduled for 4 November at 2pm Oftel 

12. Review of Project plan/key milestones

The latest version of the Project Plan (v2.1 dated 14 October) was discussed in detail. A number of changes were identified which are listed as follows:

Task 39 – complete

Task 40 – complete

Task 46 – change to 85 days to take finish date to 10 December.

Task 51- complete (actual date 7/10/02)

Task 52 – complete (actual date 14/10/02)

Task 72 – complete

Task 74 – complete

Task 80 – change to read deadline for having a contract in place with ICSTIS to ensure 10^th December launch is 15 November

Task 86 – consumer research completed and due for publication by Oftel in the very near future

Task 90 – first set of dialling statistics to be available to group 2^nd week in February 2003

Task 98 – change description to ‘Draft version available to OG Numbering Group’ and mark as complete.

Task 99- change description to ‘Final version available to DQ-IWG’ and change date to 30^th November.

Mobile operator readiness for 10^th December was discussed.

Task 66 – it was identified that BT publication of the transit prices and carrier price list was essential for mobile networks meeting the 10 December date for building and testing 118 numbers.

Vodafone noted that Vodafone has many resellers, and while Vodafone can state what the recommended retail price should be, resellers were able to set their own retail prices.

Beatrice Osborn reported that the 118 numbers are now built in BT’s transit layer, so other operators could begin their testing.

It was also identified that the BT Phonebook Insert should be included on the Project Plan.

8. Any Other Business

DQ and CPS

CW reported that Oftel intended to publish its Statement about the treatment of 118 DQ calls in relation to CPS on 25 October.

Network messaging and parallel running

There had been a request for clarification on network messaging during the parallel running period from a consumer representative. CW confirmed Oftel’s understanding that there will be no network messaging from anybody during this time. The current plan was that there would only be network messaging after August 2003 when 192/153 etc are withdrawn.

Call Barring and CPS ‘All calls’

Beatrice Osborn (BT) advised the group of a call barring issue that had been identified with regard to 118 calls within CPS. The issue relates to admin controlled call barring that prevents outbound calls to all PRS. If 118 calls were not subject to CPS, it was BT’s plan to include 118 calls in the ‘operator’ call barring category. But if 118 calls needed to be included in the CPS ‘all calls’ option, 118 calls would have to use the ‘indirect charging’ functionality on BT’s switches. This would mean that 118 numbers would have to go in one of the few remaining ‘destination charge groups’ available on BT’s System X exchanges. This in turn would mean that 118 numbers could not be included in the ‘operator’ call barring category but instead would have to be included in the PRS call barring category.

For customers with customer-controlled call barring, this wouldn’t be a problem, as they could use a PIN to over-ride the call barring and obtain access to 118 numbers.

However, for customers with network-controlled (aka ‘admin-controlled’) call barring, this presented a problem. Most of this type of barring related to PRS calls, and therefore (unless other arrangements were made) these customers would not have access to any DQ services after August 2003. About 10% of BT’s custome r base fell into this category.

BT therefore proposed to set aside one destination charge group for specific 118 numbers for these customers (with no call completion allowed on these numbers). BT was keen to avoid competition concerns, and therefore proposed that, if this situation arose, then all DQSPs would be able to have an input as to the appropriate tariff for these 118 numbers, and all DQSPs would be able to have a 118 number in this charge group and available to these customers. BT noted that there was insufficient time to make these 118 numbers available on 10^th December, but this shouldn’t be a problem as these customers would still have access to 192/153.

Kingston advised they have the same issue.

CW noted that BT had offered to produce a written explanation of the nature o the problem and the proposed solution, pending the publication of Oftel’s DQ/CPS Statement.

Tracy Fenton (NTL) reported that NTL is concerned about the high retail prices for some 118 services. If NTL’s customers request it, NTL may introduce a barring product for these numbers.

Malcolm Green (Yell) asked if this would be on a number-by-number basis. TF responded that it was likely that the 118 numbers would be categorised according to retail price, and that NTL was unlikely to have a product barring all 118 numbers.

9. Arrangements for Next Meeting

Friday 22^nd November 10:30am - Venue Cable & Wireless, Watford, TBC
Tuesday 17^th December 10.30 - Venue TBC
Tuesday 21^st January, 10.30am – Venue TBC

10. Action Points (new and outstanding)