• Attendees
• Agenda
• Interconnect Agreement
• Update on Interconnect Numbers and Locations
• Charging Principles
• Charging Framework
• Interconnect Services Requirements
• Programme Scope – Status of CP Work-streams
• Programme Board
• NICC
• AOB
• Next Meeting
• Outstanding Action List
• New Actions

Peter Black – NGNuk

Peter Ryde – NGNuk

John Morden – BT Wholesale

Phil Kirby – Vodafone

Peter Agnew – Colt

Ben Philips – Sky/Easynet

Robyn Durie – T-Mobile

Phil Male – Thus

Neil Mcarthur – Opal

Andy King – VirginMedia

Apologies – Steve Unger (Ofcom) , Mark Dalziel ( NGNuk)

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•  Interconnect  Agreement
• Update on Interconnect Numbers and Location
• Charging Principles and Framework Update
• Update on Interconnect Requirements
• Overall Programme Status
• AOB
• Actions

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The Secretariat was requested to create a straw-man structure that replicates the final interconnect framework, to populate this and identify what has been agreed and the issues outstanding.

The approach adopted by the Secretariat, and agreed by the Exec, assumes that many areas of work will be undertaken outside of NGNuk (e.g. MSA with BTW via Consult 21).

The draft framework identifies those areas of work requiring NGNuk involvement, input or ownership and where other bodies are more appropriately placed to take the lead.

This was distributed to the Commercial work group on 15^th August with a request to comment. No comments have yet been received. It will be discussed at the commercial work group meeting on 12^th September.

The work will be presented back to the Exec in September.

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The output of the BTW consultation on interconnect numbers and locations was published on 3^rd August. In summary:

BTW will make Edinburgh, Nottingham and London South West Interconnect locations for NGN CC(PE) and WBC by sitting some edge equipment at those locations.

BTW will add 8 locations for NGN CC(PE) interconnect and consider a ninth additional location for lines parented on Inverness and Aberdeen located at Inverness or Aberdeen.

WBC Interconnect will be at 20 locations

All NGN CC(PE) calls will be routed via the agreed locations to provide equivalent treatment for Interconnect calls.

No further NGNuk involvement is anticipated; however John Morden thanked all members for their help and support throughout the process.

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The final version of the Charging Principles paper has been published under NGNuk branding on the NGNuk website.

One set of comments has been received from an external consultancy. These have been discussed with the consultancy, with most comments being related to work currently ongoing to develop the Charging Framework

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As covered in the July Exec minutes, it had been agreed by by the Commercial work group to focus on two areas of work:

1. Whether Call Control and Session Management would become a sufficient driver of cost to require to be treated separately within the charging framework.
2. That the Secretariat would complete two templates (developed by CW/Thus) with input received during the initial review. These would be circulated for Members to consider and amend the detail to better reflect their views.

A set of questions relating to Call Control and Session Management were distributed to the commercial work group mid July for return early August. In addition the Secretariat completed and distributed the agreed templates in a similar timeframe.

As few responses had been received by week commencing 20^th August the commercial meeting scheduled for 23^rd August to discuss these was cancelled. This is rescheduled for 12^th September.

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Version 2.1 of the Interconnect Requirements has been published on the public area of the NGNuk web site and comments invited.

None have been received.

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Active

Service Specification for Real Time Voice ( no owner agreed but CW completing PID,)

When Peter Ryde met with NICC TSG they stated that NGNuk is not required to provide any further input to support the work for Green Release being undertaken by NICC.

The Voice PID (completed by CW) outlines the purpose of the work stream as “developing a specification for the Real Time Voice (PSTN/ISDN) reference offer for interconnected NGNs with a major deliverable as “one or more technical interconnect specifications to support the agreed reference services”.

Given the evidence of the NGNuk work streams to date Jon Lonergan ( CW)  and Peter Ryde agreed that CPs were unlikely to be able to resource this work (due to both the availability and prioritisation of resources). It was felt that whilst this work will need to be undertaken at some future date it is unlikely to have sufficient impetus until such time as interconnection with BT 21CN becomes imminent.

It was recognised that this was not the original intent of NGNuk and that it also created risks for CPs by being overly reliant on BTW.

The Exec endorsed this approach. It was requested that this be defined such that it could be agreed more formally by members.

Action 1 – 30/08/2007 – Peter Ryde to draft agreement relating to approach to Voice activity building upon C21 and circulate this prior to September Exec.

Service Specification for Data (Alireza Mahmoodshahi, Colt) – Peter Agnew (Colt) has updated the Data Requirements to reflect output of MPLS/VPN work shop. These have been circulated for comment. BTW has provided comments and the other members were urged to do so.

Definition of Terms (Secretariat) – On hold awaiting 2nd draft of Interconnect Requirements. As this has now been published the Secretariat needs to review approach.

Numbering and Addressing ( Ben Philips, Sky/Easynet ) – Requires review with NICC lead to ensure approaches are consistent ( see actions)

Presence and Location (Angus Flett, BT) – A lead was identified and a preliminary briefing undertaken. It is hoped that an initial draft can be completed by the end of September.

Security and Authentication – (Phil Male, Thus) – The security and authentication work shop was re-run on 31^st July led by Jim Credland. This was well attended.

GSMA had also been requested to attend but did not send a representative.The workshop generated considerable debate.   The conclusions and requirements against which any proposal for authentication and identity management proposed for the interconnection between UK operators captured. 

The primary issue of contention was the extent to which the operators should be responsible for identifying the individual rather than the device initiating a session.  The business case for identifying individuals will need to be made by each operator separately however it would seem sensible for the underlying processes and protocols to support identification of individuals as well as devices.

The next step is to engage with the vendors

The requirements will also be reviewed against the work being done by the ITU IdM once it’s clear (from the vendors) whether the ITU IdM recommendations will be implemented in their entirety.

It was suggested that NGNuk contact the Liberty Alliance for additional input.

Action 2 – 30/08/2007 – Stuart Shutt to forward contact details for the Liberty Alliance to Peter Ryde.

On hold

1. MPLS/VPN Scope (Phil Male, Thus) – The IPVPN requirements are to be incorporated within the Data Requirements. Whilst at the workshop there was no support of MPLS or other technologies to support facilities (infrastructure) based competition there was support from both Virgin and Thus at the Executive. It was agreed that Thus/Virgin would identify whether they could obtain further support from members. If available they would continue to sponsor this as a work stream.
2. Cost Modeling (Andy May, C&W) – Draft submitted however it was agreed at the May Exec that this work stream was not required. Following discussion within the Exec this was re-reviewed by Peter Black and Andy May and agreed that some tactical modeling might be required to support the work streams. Beyond this no modeling work is anticipated.
3. Service Specification for Real Time (Other) (BTW) – On Hold due to lack of clear requirements
4. Service Specification Near Real Time and Streaming (BTW) – On Hold due to lack of clear requirements

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A Programme Board has not been held since the last Exec as there has not been sufficient activity to warrant this.

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NGNuk await feedback from NICC regarding the content of the NGNuk Interconnect Requirements. This has been circulated to the TSG for comment.

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Payment for 2007/2008 invoices is still outstanding from many members.

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The next meeting will be 10.00 to 14.00 on 27^th September 2007 at Riverside House.

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Action 14 – 29/03/2007 - Develop guidance notes for work stream leaders regarding the use of non members within a work stream. The Exec requested that the guidance notes ensure that work stream leaders are aware that they should not favour non members in such a way that it might distort competition.	Peter Ryde Ongoing
Action 3 – 26/04/2007 – Secretariat to arrange that Openreach attend to provide detail of where the Openreach products will interconnect. Openreach have agreed to present at the July Exec meeting. This will be deferred (given the August meeting is an audio call)  until September.	Secretariat Ongoing
Action 5 – 31/05/2007 – Secretariat should create a strawman structure that replicates the final interconnect framework, then to populate this document to identify clearly what has been agreed and  the key issues outstanding. Initial views presented Exec. Draft circulated to the commercial work group for comment. To be reviewed with Exec in September	Secretariat Ongoing
Action 1 - 28/06/2007  - Gideon Senensieb to provide NGNuk with a structured set of questions reflecting the specific feedback Ofcom is seeking from CPs to help ensure that the assumptions adopted are as robust and accurate as possible. Peter Black to follow up with Ofcom.	Ofcom Ongoing
Action 1 - 26/07/2007  - Numbering and Addressing ( Ben Philips, Sky/Easynet ) – Requires review with NICC lead to ensure approaches are consistent. Ben Phillips to pick up the issue with Nigel Titley and liaise with Paul Rothsbotham. Peter Ryde and Ben Philips to discuss off line.	Ben Phillips Ongoing
Action 2 – 26/07/2007 – Angus Flett to provide a named contact – Ryan Hardy.	Angus Flett Completed
AP3 – 26/07/07 – Peter Ryde to confirm with PWC that their presentation can be circulated to the Exec and be asked to present to the Exec at a later date. Presentation circulated. PWC to present in October	Peter Ryde Completed
Action 4 – 26/07/2007 – NGNuk to request from NICC information on the impact of their recommendation – Detail requested from NICC 3/08/2007	Mark Dalziel Ongoing