OPF Focus Group Slides and Reports for the meeting planned for 13th Dec 2001

Contents:

1. Geographic, Non-Geographic & Personal Number Portability Report
   
   

2. NTS Focus Group Report

3. Mobile Number Portability Report

4. ICPS Slides

Geographic, Non-Geographic & Personal Number Portability Report

1. The TTG (Technical Task Group) review of the HLSD (High Level Service Description) is complete. The documents are available for comment. To gain access or to forward comments contact Chris Mitchell of BT. chris.a.mitchell@bt.com The TTG are awaiting the PNOIG & NICC to ratify the documents or request further work.

2. The NP group is looking at the issues surrounding ported numbers that do not work on a conveyance charge basis (i.e. Internet for schools, FRIACO etc.), to establish a method for making such numbers portable in a commercially acceptable way. A sub group will hold its first meeting in January 2002 to focus on this issue.

3. Following a meeting with Oftel to look at contingency arrangements regards failed Telco's and associated ported numbers. A subgroup will meet on the 9th January 2002 to explore scenarios.

4. The review of charging for Service Maintenance Activities is ongoing.

5. An initial meeting took place between representatives from LLU and GNP. Where draft processes for GNP with Shared MPF were tabled. A further meeting of the two industry working groups is to be scheduled for the New Year.

6. A Statement of Requirements for Unallocated GNP was issued; Operators have 60 working days to respond.

7. Fixed & mobile number portability groups provided an overview of their respective processes. This exchange of information was useful.

8. Formally recognising PnP (Personal Number Portability) within the terms of reference for this group.

NTS Focus Group Report

The last NTS focus group was held on 2nd November. Among other things, Oftel's draft Direction on the retail uplift was discussed. At the end of
this meeting Oftel formally handed over the chair of the group to Mark Amoss of Cable & Wireless. Mark explained that in future focus groups would concentrate on addressing commercial issues where progress could be made by dialogue between terminators and originators. Where progress is not being made on issues, these should be referred to Oftel for formal dispute resolution. If particular regulatory issues arose, extra focus group meetings would be held to discuss potential solutions to disputes. The next focus group meeting will be arranged for the new year.

Mobile Number Portability Report

1. The OPF will be aware that the new mobile number portability process (MNP2) was introduced at the beginning of October 2001. In consequence, subsequent meetings of the MNP Focus Group have tended to spend some time discussing how the new system is operating.

2. In October, the Operational Review Group (ORG) proposed a number of changes to the system to remedy problems that only came to light once the system had gone live. The Focus Group has examined the proposed remedies and is discussing those that it considers to be essential.

3. An industry body representing service providers, the Federation of Communication Services (FCS), recently met to agree a new recommended maximum porting charge of £20 including VAT. The Focus Group is perturbed that any charges are being levied by service providers against their customers wishing to port. Most service providers do not charge for porting. The FCS also recommended that 'for corporate users owing on their account for several months, the obligation to port should be reversed.' At its meeting on the 5 December 2001, the Focus Group rejected this proposal and any proposal that would prevent a customer porting where they have outstanding debt but continue to receive a service. The Focus Group is setting up a separate meeting to discuss the issue and identify the extent of service providers' concerns.

4. The Focus Group is examining possible improvements to MNP2. This includes process changes that could be fairly readily implemented within the existing process and longer-term changes that have been termed, MNP3. The Focus Group will be debating these over the coming months.

5. The Focus Group has provided an article for the TelecomsAdvice website and will do so for the Telecommunication Users Association yearbook due out in April 2002.