Click here to return to the Network and Interconnection main page.
Item - Presented by: (Oftel unless otherwise stated)
1. Introduction and Action Points - Ann Taylor
2. Development of Oftel Long Term Strategy - Alan Bell
3. CPS Update - Chris Taylor
4. Refile Traffic from the UK to German Mobiles - Jane Gorringe (BT)
5. International Matters - Vince Affleck
6. Volume Commitment Deal for IDD - Anthony Shephard (BT)
8. AOB
Ann Taylor introduced the meeting and said that action points, which had all been discharged, were listed on the summary distributed to all OPF members.
Alan Bell gave a presentation on the current status of Oftel’s review of long term strategy. Click here to view Alan’s slides.
Wayne Melville (MCI WorldCom) asked how Oftel’s work on long term strategy interacted with the EU Review of telecoms regulations. Alan Bell replied that Oftel’s thinking on strategy would assist its input to the EU review. Ann Taylor added that Oftel believes that other European authorities are thinking on long term strategy along the same lines as Oftel.
Alan Bell concluded the discussion by emphasising that Oftel’s detailed methodological approach to most issues will not change. The review is about high level strategy.
Chris Taylor explained the current situation on the UK’s request for deferment of publication of CPS implementation. Chris explained that, since the UK debate on possible interim CPS solutions conducted in August, the Minister (Patricia Hewitt) had received a letter from (then) Commissioner Van-Miert requesting that the UK modify its request for deferment such that CPS implementation for all calls will be available at the end of March 2000. A response to that letter was in draft. Mr Van-Miert was no longer Commissioner and the UK response will be handled by his successor, Mr Liikanen. The UK response was being drafted along the lines that the UK will fall into line with the Commission’s request only if that is absolutely necessary, but that we still have severe reservations about whether there is a net benefit to implementation of CPS for an interim period using autodiallers. Oftel has scheduled a meeting for 12 October to co-ordinate action on autodiallers (if they are required). Operators interested in taking part in this should contact Nic Green at Oftel.
Wayne Melville asked when a reply to the UK response was expected. Chris Taylor replied that Oftel does not have any firm information on that - just that the Commission has indicated that it would deal with the issue as swiftly as possible.
Jane Gorringe (BT) gave a presentation on this issue. Click here to view Jane's slides.
Following Jane’s presentation, there was debate focused on whether BT is able to impose controls on traffic where the network is running short of capacity. Adam Renwick (RACAL) expressed concern that some operators are being penalised for the under-forecasting of others. Peter Walker explained that all operators are able to take steps to safeguard the security and integrity of their network. Wayne Melville questioned whether the controls imposed by BT in this case were more about finances than network integrity (ie BT is losing money). Peter Walker replied that BT is under no obligation to carry traffic below cost.
Anthony Sheppard (BT) clarified that BT calculates rates for refile traffic using gross marginal accounting rates.
Rob Borthwick (Vodafone and Chairman of the OLO Group) asked whether the threshold was applied per operator. Jane Gorringe replied that it was.
Wayne Melville and Rob Borthwick both expressed concern about BT using non-price related methods to control traffic volumes. They were worried that this would set a precedent.
Competition in international markets
Vince Affleck (Oftel) said that Oftel would be publishing its preliminary views on its investigation into competition in international markets on 21 or 22 October.
The investigation had been requested by BT who asked Oftel to review competition in its top 23 retail IDD routes, its top 23 IPLC routes, and the top 26 wholesale IDD routes. Investigation had focussed on the need for price publication, controls on price discrimination, and prohibitions on pricing below cost. These controls are generally aimed at preventing abuses such as ‘one-way bypass’ and ‘whipsawing’.
Vince also announced the start of a thorough review of the conditions contained in IFLs. He briefly explained that the conditions under review – Conditions 59, 60, 61, and 62 – are contained in Part H of the new Standard PTO licence.
Anthony Sheppard made a presentation on this proposal from BT. Click here to view Anthony's slides.
Rob Borthwick questioned whether the ‘first come, first served’ approach would provide too much incentive for people to bid low.
Graham Gordon asked whether this proposal was the first step to volume discounting by BT. Anthony Sheppard replied that it was not.
Nigel Warren (Cable & Wireless) asked what costing approach had been taken in setting the prices for this service. Anthony Sheppard replied that prices had to be cost oriented. Nigel asked him whether prices could fall below LRIC. Anthony Sheppard replied that they could not.
Mark Courtney (Destia) asked whether the deal included any liability on BT if it could not provide requested volumes. Anthony Sheppard replied that BT would know how much traffic it would receive and had adequate arrangement for resilience and overflow. Peter Walker suggested that the issue would arise in the instance of force majeure. Anthony replied that liability in cases of force majeure is already covered in interconnection contracts.
Geoff Brighton (Oftel) reported.
The draft Direction of NTS Conveyance was issued on 27 August and a focus group held on 2 September to go through the proposals. OLO information was requested to assist the accuracy of the charging methodology to be used in the Final Direction.
Eleven responses were received. These are all posted in the Oftel R&I unit with any confidential information having been removed – the date for comments on comments is 8 October.
The Direction is scheduled for publication by the end of October and there will be a further focus group meeting shortly beforehand to expose the actual charges, explain the changes and deal with key issues arising from the consultation responses.
Work has started on the review of the retail uplift. A project timetable is in preparation. This will be published to the focus group, with the aim of completing the exercise by Christmas.
The final NTS Statement should be issued by the end of the month subject to the caveat that the Numbering Forum agrees to the numbering arrangements that will apply. OLOs’ proposals have been documented and will be discussed at the next meeting on 8 October.
Owen Watson (Torch) reported.
Work is ongoing to implement Transaction Based Charging. Viewed as a tool for reducing current poor adherence to SLAs. Introduction expected Spring 2000.
Pre Allocation Portability. Workshop took place on 5th October to consider process issues. Discussions remain ongoing as to the hosting of the website for Phase II and confirmation required from Oftel as to a means of ensuring industry compliance. It is felt that revisions to the Numbering Conventions and the NP Functional Specification may be sufficient. Some concerns exist around Data Protection that are currently with Oftel for consideration.
NGNP Transit has been discussed and the industry has held a workshop to seek service enhancements. This is a positive approach to an important issue and is moving the product forward following a period of general industry neglect.
New version 6 of the E2E manual available via the Oftel website.
Project Status Porting is going into trial in the near future whilst timed 100 number block porting is coming out of feasibility within BT.
This report has still to be received.
This report has still to be received.
Steward Lund (Redstone) reported.
PNP will be based on non-geographic number portability (NGNP).
The new process manual is now completed and will be signed off at the end of the trial. It is based on NGNP with some streamlining and adaptation.
Trialists are BT, Redstone and Vodafone. The trial is on course for completion by the end of the year.
Operators can commence PNP in advance of full completion of the trial provided that part of the process has been tested.
BT contract schedules are in draft and will be presented to the standard contract forum.
There are some outstanding technical issues (with portability in general, not just PNP), particularly surrounding number lengths for billing which are in excess of those required as a licence condition.
Karen Hardy (ENERGIS) reported.
The Triallists Group is now up and & running. The first meetings have been poorly attended and operators are encouraged to participate.
The Group has scheduled an order handling walk-through at its next meeting.
The Service Preparation Group is to be contacted to arrange a service prep walk-through.
All project plans are to be revised, and owners allocated for actions.
The Process Group has reviewed the end-to-end process manual and is about to sign-off Issue 3 which will include section clarifying functionality available at launch
The Commercial Group has not met since last OPF (next meeting scheduled for 5 October).
Other points:
The Commercial Group is expecting indicative prices from BT.
Call barring remains an issue.
Work on the possible interim solution is occupying resource.
The Consumer Group has not met mostly because Oftel time taken up with deferment work.
Codes of practice will need to be finalised if an interim solution is implemented
Lisbeth Christopherson (MCIWorldcom) and Huw Saunders (KCL) reported that the group has now met twice. BT has made a presentation on the structure of the Option 2 service and requested responses. It was agreed that this group should report regularly to the OPF. Action 10/1
John Bean (Oftel) gave a presentation to update the meeting on the determination of indirect access from mobile networks. Click here to view John's slides.
Steve Couzens (BT) briefly presented BT’s concerns about call origination for 0800 services. Click here to view Steve's slides.
There was a brief discussion on this. Leslie Swinley (One2One) said that this was a
problem for mobile operators as well. Leslie wondered whether it was more appropriate for
the NTS Focus Group rather than OPF. Ann Taylor said that Oftel would consider this.
Action 10/2
Huw Saunders asked whether Oftel could give an account of how it would proceed on policy arising from discussions at the ONP Committee, particularly on leased lines and access to mobile networks. Ann Taylor replied that Oftel intended it to be transparent and to reflect a concerted industry view in its discussions on the EU Review. For this reason Jim Niblett chairs an Industry Working Group on the Review. Operators should contact Oftel should they wish to join the Working Group. Action 10/3. It was agreed that Oftel would provide an update on progress to the next OPF. Action 10/4
Ann Taylor suggested that the next meeting of the OPF should be rescheduled as this one
had been postponed. Action 10/5.
| No. | Description | Status | Owner |
| 10/1 | Oftel to ensure that the report from the Option 2 Implementation Working Group is scheduled for future meetings of the OPF. | New | Oftel |
| 10/2 | Oftel to consider the appropriate forum to look at transit 0800 indirect access. | New | Oftel |
| 10/3 | Operators that wish to be represented on the EU Working Group should contact Oftel. |
|
Operators |
| 10/4 | Oftel to schedule an update on the EU Review for the next OPF. | New | Oftel |
| 10/5 | Oftel to reschedule 28 October OPF. Reply: It has been rescheduled for 12 November. |
Completed | Oftel |
| 12/3 (97) |
Oftel will provide periodic updates on the latest EU Directives and briefings on forthcoming licensing issues. | Ongoing | Oftel |
| 4/4 (98) | BT will provide periodic updates on its proposals to increase the number of available chargebands at future OPFs. | Ongoing | BT |
