OPERATOR POLICY FORUM:

12 November 1999

Contents:

1. Agenda for the meeting.

2. Minutes of the meeting.

3. Action Points from the meeting.

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1.    Agenda

Item    -    Presented by:  (Oftel unless otherwise stated)

1. Introduction and Action Points - Ann Taylor

2. EU 1999 Review update - Jim Niblett

3. Competition in International Markets - Vince Affleck

4. Carrier Pre-selection - Chris Taylor

5. Narrowband and IP Strategy - BT

6. Focus Group updates:
         NTS - Geoff Brighton
         Non-Geographic Number Portability - Lesley Bulman (Diamond Cable)
         Geographic Portability - Gill Parker (Cable London)
         Mobile Number Portability - Alastair Gilchrist (One2One)
         Personal Number Portability - Stewart Lund (Redstone Telecom)
         CPS Commercial Group - Karen Hardy (Energis)
         Option 2 Implementation Working Group - Lisbeth Kristoffersen (MCI Worldcom)

7. Forthcoming Oftel Publications - Ann Taylor

8. AOB

2.    Minutes

Ann Taylor advised that all of the outstanding action points had either been closed or were on the agenda for this meeting.

2.    EU 1999 Review

Jim Niblett reported that on 10 November the Commission had issued the Fifth Report on the Implementation of the Telecommunications Regulatory Package (click here to view Jim's slides). He advised that the report was available at www.europa.eu.int/comm/dg13/electrocomm.htm. Jim stated that Oftel would report to the OPF in January summarising its response to the report. Action 11/1.

3.    Competition in International Markets

Vince Affleck advised that Oftel had recently published a Consultation Document on Competition in International Markets. The document proposed modifications to BT’s licence, which would relax certain regulatory requirements at the retail and wholesale level. (Click here to view Vince's slides).

Rob Bratby (COLT) enquired how Oftel would judge whether price and/or charge changes made by BT at either the retail or wholesale level on the routes identified were unduly discriminatory. In response Vince stated that Oftel would have to consider the merits of each change to a retail price or network charge on a case-by-case basis. He explained that, should the proposed modifications become effective, the onus was on BT responsibility to ensure that any proposal was not anti-competitive.

Karen Murray (Energis) requested that hyperlinks should be established between Oftel’s website and that of respondents to the consultation document. Action 11/2.

4.    Carrier Pre-Selection

Chris Taylor reported that the Commission had still to formally reject the UK’s request for deferment of its CPS obligations. It was also unclear whether the requirement to provide an all calls CPS facility by the end of March also related to ISDN.

Chris then went on to explain other recent CPS developments. He explained that during recent discussions it had become clear that the industry would prefer a validated CPS interim solution rather than a BT managed solution. Implementation issues for the interim product would be discussed through a focus group under the chairmanship of Iain Osborne. It would be specifically considering the relationship between OLOs and BT.

Chris also advised that Oftel would be publishing the Functional Specification for the interim solution; a statement on cost-recovery for the interim solution; and a consultation document on the proposed licence modifications. He stated that the consultation period would be shorter than would ordinarily be the case due to time constraints.

Iain Osborne stated that the Implementation-Focus Group would report directly to the OPF and its papers would be reproduced on Oftel’s website. Huw Saunders (Kingston) stated that the licence modification would need to be placed in all licences.

5.    Narrowband and IP Strategy

Steve Wickenden (BT) explained BT’s plans to increase the capacity of its narrowband network to meet the increasing demand for interconnect, which is being driven by the increasing amount of Internet calls. The investment in BT’s narrowband network would meet immediate demand for capacity. (Click here to view Steve's slides).

Dave Hughes (BT) stated that he was here to advise the OPF of new prices for its BTnet Dial IP product. He advised that BT had formally notified Oftel of its new pricing structure for its BTnet Dial IP product today. (Click here to view Dave's slides).

Jo Upward (Energis) asked whether the quoted prices were in addition to freephone NTS origination. Dave Hughes explained that the prices for the Dial-Up IP product were fully inclusive prices. OLOs and service providers would not pay NTS call origination prices above the stated price for the BTnet Dial IP product. Dave also stated that BT would be notifying Oftel about new IP products over the forthcoming months.

Nigel Short (BT) further advised that BT Carrier Services would be willing to consider other OLO IP interconnection requirements. Oftel was asked to circulate the slides used during BT’s presentation. Action 11/3.

6.    Focus Group updates

NTS Focus Group

Geoff Brighton reported that Oftel intended to publish a statement on NTS arrangements in the second week of December. The statement would include proposals that could have a bearing on Internet charging arrangements. Oftel was asked to schedule a Group meeting to consider possible alterations to the ‘retail-uplift’. Action 11/4.

Non-geographic number portability

Lesley Bulman (NTL) reported on behalf of the NGNP-Focus Group. Lesley advised that NGNP wished the OPF to agree its draft terms of reference for pre-allocation portability. The major alteration to the terms of reference would specify that it intended to get an external source to audit order handling of pre-allocation portability. Lesley stated that the draft terms of reference would be circulated for consideration by the OPF. Action 11/5.

Lesley further advised that NGNP had been considering whether BT’s transit product was in need of revision. The Group had also discussed whether order handling should be limited to weekdays between 9am and 5pm.

Geographic number portability

Owen Watson (Torch) reported that GNP subsequent and centrex portability trials were continuing, and portability would be available from 1 January 2000. GNP had agreed that order handling should only take place on weekdays between 9am and 5pm. The Group had also discussed mobility rules. It wished the issue to be re-considered.

Mobile number portability

The MNP Focus Group had recently discussed whether the new porting administrative process would meet Oftel’s portability timescales. The Group had also asked Oftel to re-issue its guidance on portability when a consumer’s account is not clear. Some independent service providers refuse portability if monies remain outstanding.

Personal number portability

Stewart Lund had advised the OPF Secretary before the meeting that PNP trials are ongoing and on schedule.

CPS Commercial Group

Karen Hardy (Energis) advised that the end-to-end process manual had been revised, and the Group was now working to Version 3. Karen also reported that the Group had recently drafted the memorandum of understanding for the full solution.

Option 2 Implementation

Lisbeth Kristofferson (MCIWorldCom) reported on behalf of the Option 2 implementation. (Click here to view Lisbeth's slides).

Working Group. Lisbeth reported that the Group had had five meetings and had agreed the scope of its work, timing and its terms of reference.

7.    Forthcoming publications

Ann Taylor advised the OPF of two forthcoming Oftel publications: Rollover of BT’s existing retail price and network charge controls and Access to Bandwidth: Delivering Competition for the Information Age.

8.    Any other business

In response to an outstanding action point from October’s OPF Ann Taylor reported that Oftel had considered charging arrangements when BT is acting as a transit operator for freephone indirect access when the indirect access call originated on an OLOs network. Oftel’s initial view was that BT should be able to cover its costs when acting as a transit operator for freephone indirect access. The originating operator and the IA operator should agree terms for indirect access. Oftel would circulate a paper with the action points outlining its views. Action 11/6.

Dennis Wood (BT) asked whether Oftel would be stating that there could be a freeze on portability requests over the millennium. He explained that this issue had been raised at the Y2K operators’ group. Peter Walker advised that Oftel had already given its consent to a freeze on portability requests over the millennium.

Matt Gould (First Telecom) asked Oftel to provide an update on the timetable for publication of the indirect access determinations. Action 11/7.

3.   Action Points