| Oftel
Statement ~ 1st October 2001
Consultation
1. Oftel
is putting out to consultation
the revised Standard OTR003: 2001 and associated Scheme Guide with
widespread support from interested parties following extensive industry
involvement in the development process. Although there has been
some delay, the concluding phase of this project is still broadly
in accordance with the plans published earlier. Given that the technical
content of the scheme as published reflects the inputs received
and developed in discussion with the industry and no detailed proposals
for acceptable alternatives have been received, Oftel now intends
to proceed towards implementation.
Designation
2. Designation
of the Standard, ie the legal instrument bringing it into effect,
will follow shortly after the formal consultation period has closed
and any final representations have been considered.
Appointment
of Approval Bodies
3. There
has been discussion with four Approval Bodies regarding the implementation
of the scheme. Arrangements are in hand for their appointment once
the Standard has been designated and their implementation plans
reviewed by Oftel. It is expected that the British Approvals Board
for Telecommunications (BABT) will continue to offer approvals under
the new scheme and will be joined by the British Standards Institute
(BSI), Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), and National Quality
Assurance (NQA). This will offer a good choice of approval services
to Operators and provide sufficient resources to operate the Scheme
for the foreseeable future.
Application
Programme
4. The programme
for inviting Operators to submit applications for approval under
the Scheme has been slightly delayed and it is therefore intended
to roll the first two groups together, comprising Mobile Operators
Orange and One 2 One, Mobile Service Providers and Cable Operators.
Following the Designation, the Director General will be writing
to the companies concerned inviting them to submit applications
within 6 months. Operators in the subsequent groups will be similarly
invited to submit their applications in accordance with the timetable
published last December, ie
- Colt, Energis,
WorldCom : Second quarter 2002
- Thus, Your
Communications, Torch & Global Crossing : Third quarter 2002
The scheme will
then be extended to other Operators with an annual turnover in excess
of £1m.
5. It is
expected that some Operators will voluntarily seek approval earlier
to improve customer confidence and gain the concomitant corporate
revenue assurance benefits.
Transition
Arrangements
6. It is
recognised that the existing approval holders will need time to
move their approvals to the new scheme and implement the necessary
changes. Oftel will hold discussions with them on an individual
basis to agree acceptable programmes, within an absolute time limit
for completion of 31st December 2003. Associated with the transition
arrangements will be a review of the Fees Order, Statutory Instrument
2001 No. 2606, which specifies the level of fees payable by approval
holders to the sole approval body under the existing scheme.
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