Terms of Reference

The Mobile Number Portability Focus Group has been set up under the OPF to resolve the commercial issues associated with the implementation of Mobile Number Portability. The Focus Group will be informed by the PNOIG Mobile Number Portability Technical Working Group and also by the existing OPF Fixed and Non-Geographic Number Portability Focus Groups. The Focus Group shall take into account the views of Service Providers by ensuring that they are adequately represented within the Group.

The key deliverables for the OPF Focus Group are:

1. Production of the mobile number portability Process Manual which will contain technical, operational and service establishment process.

2. Identification and resolution of commercial issues associated with the implementation of mobile number portability. This should include the following:

Review of industry cost benefits of introducing number portability

Costs associated with system set-up, per number set-up, call conveyance and administration.

Responsibilities and commercial relationships between Service Providers, Network Operators and Interconnect Partners.

Review of licensing implications

For more information on the OPF MNP FG contact: Peter Roberts of Orange

To assist the OPF MNP FG in its deliberations the following sub group has been established:

TSMG: Trial Strategy Management Group (Dissolved)

1. The purpose of this group is to manage all aspects of the MNP trial (Q4 1998).

2. The purpose of the trial is to prove a customer friendly MNP process by validating the interworking between all network operators together with the Service Provider business processes established to support the systems. This will lead to the identification of any potential problems arising from the use of the technology itself and the associated new processes to support the systems before the service is made widely available. The resolution of these will build confidence within the OLOs, Service Providers and Oftel that a successful launch can be achieved.

3. The group will report on a regular basis to the Operator Policy Forum/MNP Focus Group.

For more information on the TSMG contact: Malcolm Harvey

ITG: Information Technology Group (Dissolved)

A forum for network operators and service providers to define and agree standards for electronic interfaces to support the mobile number portability porting process.

This forum shall report into the MNP-OPF-FG and all agreed standards shall be documented and passed forward to the MNP-OPF-FG as recommendations for approval.

This forum has special responsibility for the detailed planning and execution of IT aspects of testing and trails, in line with the test strategy defined by the Trail Strategy Management Group (TSMG).

For more information on the ITG contact: Lorraine Smith

UIG: User Implementation Group

A forum for network operators and service providers to identify and resolve issues relating to the implementation, testing and operation of the mobile number portability porting process, especially those related to customer care.

This forum has special responsibility for the detailed planning and execution of business and QA trials, in line with the test strategy defined by the Trail Strategy Management Group (TSMG).

This forum shall initially report into the Trail Strategy Management Group and shall use this forum as a point of escalation and resolution for issues as necessary.

Since the TSMG has now dissolved, the forum report directly into the MNP OPF FG

For more information on the UIG contact: Chris Clissitt

CWG: Commercial Working Group (Dissolved)

This group is responsible for the development of business rules in respect of Service Provider related aspects of MNP. The group, in liaison with the Federation of Communication Services Service Provider Committee, shall develop and propose frameworks to the IPF MNP FG in respect of:

- Porting Administration Charges

- Breach of Contract Fair Play Rules

- Service Provider MNP Code of Practice / Conduct

This forum shall report to the OPF MNP FG.

For more information on the UIG contact: Alastair Gilchrist, or Ed Creasey