Metering and Billing Scheme Update

The Director General has issued a determination requiring four telecoms companies to seek approval for their metering and billing systems.

ntl, Orange, Telewest and T-Mobile must submit their schemes to one of the approval bodies by the end of June.

BT Group, Kingston, Cable and Wireless, mmO2 and Vodafone were subject to existing approval arrangements and will be migrating to the new Scheme.

The revised standard has also been re-designated, with no further changes to the designation previously made in December 2001.

The determination builds on the foundation of the institutional arrangements described in the previous issue of Oftel News that were set in place to extend the reach of the Metering and Billing Systems Approval Scheme. The aim of these developments is to enhance customers' confidence in the accuracy of their bills. The main features of the Scheme are a revised standard OTR003: 2001, its designation, a Scheme Guide and the appointment of three independent approval bodies, BABT, BSI and NQA.

In July Oftel invited comments on a draft determination that proposes bringing a further six companies into the Scheme. The six companies are Colt, Energis, Global Crossing, Thus, WorldCom and Your Communications. The consultation closed on 16 August and Oftel expects to issue a final determination later this year.

For further information contact Bill Hawkins (tel: 020 7634 8807 / e-mail: bill.hawkins@oftel.gov.uk).