Contents

    Supporting Information

    1.    Introduction & Overview

    2.   Presentations

Supporting Information

Meeting agenda

Draft Direction, Consultation on future interconnection arrangements for dial-up Internet in the United Kingdom Nov 2000

Determination of a dispute between BT and MCI Worldcom concerning the provision of a Flat Rate Internet Access Call Origination Product (FRIACO) May 2000

1.  Introduction & Overview

Peter Walker introduced himself as the Chairman and welcomed members to the Forum.   He explained that the Forum would be looking at developments in FRIACO and at licensing implications for ISPs.  

Peter Walker informed the Forum of  personnel changes in Oftel.  Justin Moore, new to Oftel, had recently started as Internet Technical Adviser.  Dave Simpson would be leaving Oftel in the new year to join Easynet. In Dave's absence, Elaine Axby would be leading Oftel's Internet and Ecommerce project.

The Forum began with a presentation from Jan Willem van den Bos, after which members were given the opportunity to ask questions.

2.   Presentations

2.1 FRIACO, Jan Willem van den Bos (Oftel)   - Click here to download the presentation

Jan Willem  took the Forum through a brief history of FRIACO; the original Direction in May 2000; the subsequent development of the 'hybrid' model; and the technical experts report.

Jan Willem talked about the introduction of FRIACO II and Oftel's current proposals for a three stage process to cope with both short and long term implications and the problems associated with network capacity:

Short term:         

1 Feb 2001 - 31 Jan 2002.  Oftel will ration capacity by imposing a ceiling.   This ceiling will be reviewed periodically.  Operators' traffic will need to be rearranged.

Medium term:     

1 Feb 2002 onwards.  Oftel will remove the ceiling and expect BT to take steps to increase capacity. The risk attached to this new investment will be shared between operators and BT.  Oftel will chair an industry working group on Stranded assets.

Long term:          

IP network.  IP interconnection is the most efficient means to getting the most out of the network.  Oftel will chair an industry working group on IP interconnection to discuss the technical and regulatory issues associated with this.

After the presentation, members asked a number of questions to the speaker and Chairman.

Q - What guarantees are there that the (13,500 2Mbit/s) limit will be enforced?

A - Capacity is not the most important issue.  More important is the rearrangement to take capacity from the DLEs.  Operators will have the opportunity to put their orders in on 1 February 2001.  This is when the Direction takes effect.   Availability will depend on whether operators already have capacity at the DMSU.  

Q - BT's marketing of Surftime gave the incumbent a competitive advantage. What does Oftel think?

A - There are a number of unmetered products available from other ISPs.  FRIACO was delayed but a number of FRIACO-based products are already available and Oftel predicts this number will grow.

Q - The 3 stages of FRIACO II are only proposals.  What is the next step?

A - Oftel is collecting comments on the proposals.  Oftel will consider these comments and confirm the Direction on 1 February 2001.

2.2 Licensing implications for ISPs - in a nutshell (or two), Ritu Manhas (Oftel) click here to download the presentation

Ritu Manhas took the Forum through an explanation of the UK's licensing regime and its implications for ISPs.  This included defining terms in the Telecommunications Act 1984 and identifying obligations under the Telecommunications Licence, Revised Telephony Directive and Public Telecommunications Operator Licence.

Ritu discussed the interpretation of 'voice telephony' with regard to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and the continuing European debate.

After the presentation, members asked a number of questions to the speaker and Chairman.

Q - VoIP.  What is the EU definition based on?

A - The Commission's definition of VoIP is currently based on a 1990 Direction.   However Oftel believes that this definition no longer fits today's situation.   Oftel has discussed its redundancy.  Oftel says that if it looks like a PSTN service then it should be regulated similarly and have the same obligations (e.g. to provide emergency services calls). 

Oftel's definition is based on quality of service and how the product is marketed.   Low quality services or those not marketed as a possible substitute to the traditional telephone would not be included by Oftel's definition.

Europe will issue a notice imminently.

Q - What are the implications of the Communications White Paper?

A - Europe is currently drafting regulation with an emphasis on general regulations rather individual authorisations.  (This has since been reflected in the White Paper.)  This will enable convergence to take place without requiring operators and service providers to use two or three licences for one (converged) service.

Q - What is the long term future of telecommunications switching if IP networks are taking over?

A - The focus should be on how a service is delivered and presented to the customer - rather than trying to differentiate between technologies.  If the predominantly mass-market system became based on IP, universal service obligations and requirements to provide access to the emergency services would continue.

This is a long way from the Commission's approach to VoIP in 1990 that looks at it as a separate piece of technology.

Back to OIF home page