Peter Black (NGNuk) - Chair
Peter Ryde (NGNuk)
Andy May (Cable & Wireless)
Steve Unger (Ofcom)
Neil McArthur (Opal)
Angus Flett (BT Wholesale)
Huw Saunders (Kingston)
Robyn Durie (T-Mobile)
Phil Kirby (Vodafone)
Apologies:
Justin Fielder (SKY/Easynet)
Phil Male (Thus)
Alireza Mahmoodshahi (Colt)
Stuart Shutt (Orange)
Andy King (Virgin Media)
The NGNuk paper on Interconnects identified 7 areas of concerns. These and their status prior to the meeting are as follows:
BTW (John Morden) provided the following responses:
Non-Core Interconnect Nodes
The additional nodes suggested by NGNuk would all need additional equipment at each site as the existing design assumes tromboning via the core and also to increase availability levels. Physical security improvements ( such as building hardening) would not be undertaken)
Of the sites suggested by NGNuk 10 were suitable as interconnect nodes. One sites was suggested as an alternative by BTW and one has no accommodation available until 2010.
Overall if all sites were adopted it would increase BTW capex costs by £30m. Of this amount a disproportionate amount is driven by two sites.
There was some debate regarding who should pick up the costs of an additional node where this was only required by one CP or few. The consensus was generally under such circumstances that these costs should be borne by the connecting CP.
Action 1 - 26/04/2007 - NGNuk requested any outline information that might be available on the impact on opex costs rather than just capex. BTW.
BTW requested that NGNuk consider the information provided ASAP as they wished to initiate any review via Consult 21 to finalise any design changes as soon as possible.
Action 2 - 26/04/2007 - Work group to respond to BTW by mid May regarding the additional information provided.
Proposed Substitute Core Sites
Three alternative core sites had been suggested by NGNuk.
BTW reviewed the physical requirements of the core nodes and demonstrated that there were issues with all three NGNuk suggestions.
BTW suggested that providing a "virtual" interconnect might be an option where they cover the conveyance to the core site. In addition they raised the question of whether interconnect nodes needed the same level of resilience or hardening as Core Nodes. The Exec felt that this was not the case but deferred the matter to the commercial work group to consider further.
Openreach Ethernet Products
An overview of the Openreach Ethernet Products was provided by BTW however it was felt that it would be more appropriately discussed/presented by someone from Openreach. A concern over equivalence issues between BT and CPs was raised by Neil McArthur (CPW/Opal) though it was agreed as being outside the scope of NGNuk
Action 3 - 26/04/2007 - Secretariat to arrange that Openreach attend to provide detail of where the Openreach products will interconnect.
Foreclosure
The issue of foreclosure is a concern to CPs. The issue of concern is who bears the cost where it would have been more efficient in retrospect to have a design which had incorporated the new requirements upfront. This is especially important with respect to the "undertakings". BTW maintained that additional nodes can be added later and that doing so at this time added cost to meet a requirement that was as yet unknown
End-to-End Requirements Definition
The latest draft of the E2E requirements had been put on the web site and public comments been invited.
Interconnect Requirements
Requests for feedback on the draft interconnect requirements were requested by 13th April. By 18th April only 6 responses had been received (BTW, Colt, Thus, CW, SKY/Easynet and T-Mobile).
It was stressed that there was an expectation that all members should comment even if this was only to confirm that Interconnect Requirements that no comments would be submitted.
Action 4 - 26/04/2007 - all members should comment on the Interconnect Requirements even if only to confirm that no comments would be submitted by 11th May
The current status can be summarised as follows:
Anticipated revised draft mid May with availability to public early June
A number of potential work programmes were presented to the Exec. The Exec was asked to consider whether the programme was:
The Secretariat raised the concern that CPs had provided limited input in assisting to developing the scope document or in commenting on the contents when circulated.
The debate was preceded by a discussion of the general status of the activity surrounding NGN roll out. A view was expressed that some of the difficulties being experienced by NGNuk in engaging the CPs reflected the fact that network roll out was delayed. The focus was therefore on the network issues rather than how to engage commercially. In addition it was felt that the focus would be less on the "new" services rather on how to transfer the existing products and services to the new networks. These views tended to suggest focusing in a few key areas rather than a wide spread of activity.
The projects were agreed as follows :
HIGH
End-to-End Requirements Specification (Secretariat sponsor)
Due to the wide variance between the resources identified for Voice vs. Data it was agreed that as a matter of urgency a review and comparison of the two approaches should be undertaken to identify the underlying causes.
Action 5 - 26/04/2007 - Secretariat to arrange a review of the two approaches to data and voice service spec scope with the authors
MEDIUM
Action 6 - 26/04/2007 - Andy May to review existing action to reflect skepticism that CPs would provide adequate data and adjust as appropriate. To review with Phil Kirby prior to wider circulation.
LOW
These actions would be deferred and no action will be taken at this time.
Note: Evidence to date indicates that progress on new services is problematic. Whilst it is accepted that this work package is important it is not seen as practical to commence activity at this time.
NICC
The following work package items will be requested of NICC:
Next Steps
The Exec sponsors will identify a project lead and produce a more detailed work stream plan by 11th May. A template in line with PRINCE2 methodology will be issued by the Secretariat.
These will be reviewed by the Programme Board and then consolidated into an overall plan. It is hoped to review this with NICC prior to the next Exec.
Membership Application
The application from Exponential-e to join NGNuk as a participating member was accepted.
Charging Paper
A draft of the external paper by Richard Cadman (SPC Network) to present the NGNuk view on charge models had been circulated to the Exec. Comments were being sought with a view to presenting a final version for agreement during the week commencing 8th May.
The next meeting will be 10.30 to 14.30 on 31st May 2007 at Riverside House.
Future scheduled meetings:
DATE<//font> | MEETING | TIME |
28th June 2007 | NGNuk Executive Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
Peter Ryde
NGNuk Office
07771 555 048
020 7783 4688
Action 5- 25/01/2007 - Peter Ryde to progress NGNuk Requirements Scope document to Final Draft stage in readiness for formal review and agreement by the full membership by the end of February. Updated draft has been put on the NGNuk web site for public comment. | Peter Ryde 28/2/2007 Completed |
Action 5 - 22/02/2007 - Ofcom to discuss with Professor Sir John O'Rilley NICC actions required to support the Green Release being delivered to plan. | Steve Unger Completed |
Action 6 - 22/02/2007 - Exec members to respond (to Peter Ryde) regarding the resource requirements and / or lack of support identified within resource plan provided by NICC (Paul Rosbotham) . A view of where how their vendors might better support NICC should be provided as part of this. Paul Rosbotham stated that Orange, Thus and Colt had made contact. In addition Thus stated they had approached Nortel regarding support for NICC. | Exec 02/03/2007 Completed |
Action 7 - 22/02/2007 - Secretariat to draft letter to be sent by NGNuk to vendors to solicit greater support for NICC in the development of the Green Release and distribute to Exec for comment. Draft prepared and sent to CPs for possible use with their own suppliers | Secretariat Completed |
Action 8 - 22/02/2007 - Confirm the status of the Terms of Reference covering interaction of NGNuk with NICC within NICC. These are agreed by the NGNuk Exec and are required to be endorsed by the NICC Exec in April | Peter Ryde Ongoing |
Action 1 - 29/03/2007 - Break out voice in greater detail in the final version of the presentation on Charge Model Analysis | Peter Ryde Richard Cadman Completed |
Action 2 - 29/03/2007 -NGNuk to liaise with Paul Rosbotham to provide the Exec with more detail on the status of each requirement within the Green release and specifically what is causing the underlying delay and what is required for completion | Peter Ryde Ongoing |
Action 3 -29/03/2007 : BTW to respond in detail regarding the NGNuk paper prior to the NGNuk paper entering the Consult 21 process. BTW have provided a further response and this will be considered by the Working Group | BTW Ongoing |
Action 4 -29/03/2007 : NGNuk to write to Consult 21 to reconfirm the scope of the NGNuk paper and to seek dialogue prior to the release of any Consultation document so that NGNuk can refine it's position should this be appropriate. Email to Jo Upward and subsequent discussion 23rd April at Steering Board | Peter Ryde Completed |
Action 5 - 29/03/2007 : develop outline consultants brief to identify industry distance gradients ( and / or nodal costs) for comment. Replaced by Action 6 - 26/04/2007 | Andy May Superseded |
Action 6 - 29/03/2207 : provide a definitive statement to NGNuk on what products and services will be interconnected where ( C-MSAN , F-MSAN, Metro and Core) | BTW Ongoing |
Action 7 - 29/03/2007 - Members to ensure that their representatives on the Programme Board attend the 3rd April meeting. 7 attended | Exec Completed |
Action 8 - 29/03/2007 -Incorporate that the interconnect framework should be developed from existing voice frameworks unless positive benefits of change for the consumer are identified, This should be included within next draft of interconnect requirements | Leo Todd Peter Ryde Completed |
Action 9 - 29/03/2007 - Scope request regarding the validation of 4 QoS classes and pass to NICC | Peter Ryde Ongoing |
Action 10 - 29/03/2007 - Propose a framework by which the requirements of CPs for multilateral vs. bilateral interconnect can be established. | Andy King Ongoing |
Action 11 -29/03/2007 - Develop a framework proposal for a high level industry wide approach to authentication | Phil Male Ongoing |
Action 12 - 29/03/2007 - Review the benefits of mandating the sharing of presence information across industry and the potential impact of making this chargeable or otherwise. | Stuart Shutt Ongoing |
Action 13 - 29/03/2007 - review the constitution as to any changes required to facilitate allowing non members to participate within the work streams ( when requested to do so by a work stream leader) | Peter Ryde Ongoing |
Action 14 - 29/03/2007 - Develop guidance notes for work stream leaders regarding the use of non members within a work stream. | Peter Ryde Ongoing |
Action 1 - 26/04/2007 - NGNuk requested any outline information that might be available on the impact of the additional interconnect sites on opex costs rather than just capex. | BTW |
Action 2 - 26/04/2007 - Commercial work group to respond to BTW by mid May regarding the additional information provided relating to Interconnect numbers and locations. | Commercial Work Group |
Action 3 - 26/04/2007 - Secretariat to arrange that Openreach attend to provide detail of where the Openreach products will interconnect | Secretariat |
Action 4 - 26/04/2007 - all members should comment on the Interconnect Requirements even if only to confirm that no comments would be submitted by 11th May | Exec |
Action 5 - 26/04/2007 - Secretariat to arrange a review of the two approaches to data and voice service spec scope with the authors | Secretariat |
Action 6 - 26/04/2007 - Andy May to review existing action to reflect skepticism that CPs would provide adequate data and adjust as appropriate. To review with Phil Kirby prior to wider circulation. | Andy May |