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Provision
of overflow capacity for DQ118xxx traffic
Complainant:
Cable and Wireless (C&W)
Complaint against: BT
Case opened: 27 August 2002
Case closed: 24 March 2003
Issue: Dispute between C&W and BT over the provision
of overflow capacity for DQ118 traffic.
Relevant Instrument: Regulation 6(6) of the Telecommunications
(Interconnection) Regulations 1997
C&W referred
this dispute to Oftel in August 2002. BT had agreed to carry directory
enquiry traffic using the new 118 code ("DQ118" traffic)
destined for termination on C&W's network on the interconnect
capacity between BT's and C&W's networks already used to carry
C&W's number translation services ('NTS') traffic. However,
BT refused to provide alternative routing ('overflow') for this
DQ 118 traffic terminating on C&W's network.
The provision
of a facility for overflow was requested by C&W to ensure
that DQ118 calls carried on BT's network for termination on C&W's
network do not fail due to congestion at the designated point
of interconnection. BT argued that it should not be required to
offer this service.
It appeared
to Oftel that if BT refused to provide overflow for DQ118 traffic
it would lead to BT's downstream activities having an unreasonable
competitive advantage. Oftel was also concerned that a failure
to provide overflow would either lead to more calls from end-users
failing than would otherwise be the case or may result in inefficient
over-dimensioning of links in order to cope with network congestion.
Having considered
the arguments of the parties, Oftel determined that BT should
be required to provide alternative routing for DQ118 traffic from
one BT switch interconnected with the C&W network to another
such switch connection where C&W has ensured that relevant
interconnect links from such switches are provided to a sufficiently
high grade of service.
The final
direction can be viewed on Oftel's website at http://www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/consumer/2003/dqoflow0303.htm
Case leader: Katherine Dinsdale (020 7634 5358 e-mail:
katherine.dinsdale@oftel.gov.uk)
Case reference: CW/00550/03/03
Text
Published when the case was opened.
BT: denial
of overflow capacity for DQ 118xxx traffic
Complainant:
Cable & Wireless
Case opened: 27 August 2002
Issue:
Whether BT should be required to provide overflow capacity
for DQ118 traffic that is routed on NTS
Relevant instrument: Regulation 6(6) of the Telecommunications
(Interconnection) Regulations 1997
Oftel has
received a request from Cable & Wireless to determine whether
or not BT should provide overflow capacity for DQ118 traffic that
is routed on NTS.
BT has agreed
to a request from Cable & Wireless to route DQ118 traffic
over NTS routes but has asked Cable & Wireless to submit a
separate routing plan for DQ118 traffic rather than add DQ118
numbers to its existing routing plan. It is alleged that this
is because BT is unwilling to provide overflow capacity for DQ118
traffic which it currently provides for Cable & Wireless's
existing NTS traffic.
Oftel is considering the issue.
Case leader:
Katherine Dinsdale (020 7634 5358 e-mail:
katherine.dinsdale@oftel.gov.uk)
Case reference: CW/00550/08/02
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