NGNuk Executive Meeting - 13th December 2007

Attendees:

Peter Black NGNuk

Rod Smith NGNuk

Peter Ryde NGNuk

Mark Dalziel NGNuk

Andy May (CW)

Angus Flett (BT)

Phil Male ( Thus)

Neil McArthur (CPW)

Phil Kirby (Vodafone)

Stuart Shutt (Orange)

Ben Phillips (Sky / Easynet)

Robyn Durie ( T Mobile)

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Agenda

The NGNuk December Executive meeting focused entirely on the future of NGNuk

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Meeting Notes

Firstly Rod Smith outlined the consensus that had been reached at the last Exec meeting. This was as follows:

  1. That the NGNuk Executive should focus primarily on Policy and Strategic issues to establish cross-industry agreements and articulate issues, possibly for input to Ofcom
  2. That the existing work streams should be run to completion as far as is possible in the prevailing climate
  3. There will be unknown issues in future that suggest NGNuk should not close
  4. The Secretariat should be focussed on specific issues and their delivery
  5. The fees are likely to be significantly lower for next year

Rod Smith asked whether any CPs disagreed with the summary of the consensus reached or had changed their view in the intervening period. All confirmed that they supported the consensus of continuing NGNuk for the next twelve months ( to 31.3.2009 ) and the summary as the appropriate basis for the activity of NGNuk. Stuart Shutt requested that additional focus be placed on how the above would be achieved during 2008. It was agreed that this should be covered in more detail by the Secretariat at the January 2008 Executive meeting.

Action 1 - 13/12/2007 -  Secretariat to provide their views ( for discussion) at the January Exec on how the aims for 2008 outlined by the Exec will be achieved.

Following the agreement that NGNuk should continue in 2008 , the remainder of the meeting covered the implications of this decision.

The activities undertaken by NGNuk in 2008 will be driven by the following:

  1. The completion of outstanding work programmes (Known)
  2. Exec decisions on which areas of policy making they wish to focus on and the detail and complexity of the work to support this (Unknown)
  3. Any requests of NGNuk from Ofcom (Unknown)
  4. Specific Implementation Issues (Unknown)
Existing Programme

It was agreed that NGNuk shall conclude the existing priorities as quickly and cost effectively as possible. This will cover:

  1. The commercial framework for voice. The action for completion is to establish the level of consensus around usage options and clarify member positions where there is disagreement. The intent is to facilitate input to NCC consultation development
  2. Long term Charging Framework : No action will be taken on the long term framework supporting current and future services (until the Exec decides otherwise)
  3. Security and Authentication plus Presence and Location will continue.(A discussion took place regarding an Exec sponsor for Presence and Location. Vodafone and BT agreed to jointly lead this activity, subject to final confirmation)
  4. Supporting the development and agreement of the "Orange" Interconnect Requirement with NICC

A brief discussion took place regarding how NGNuk might expand its activity to address international standards bodies where these were setting the agenda for services carried over the interconnect .

Implementation Issues

It was agreed that where a specific NGN implementation issue will have significant cross industry impact, this shall be raised at the Exec for agreement that member resources can be committed to investigation and resolution and subsequent agreement by the Exec.

An issue presented for discussion should be supported by an Executive brief circulated in advance. It was also agreed that where an issue is raised at the Exec, but resolution is agreed as being via some other agency, NGNuk will not ordinarily monitor progress or have any  involvement unless the Executive sponsor feels that insufficient progress has been made

Recommendations on Policy

It was agreed that NGNuk should seek to develop industry policy for all key issues affecting NGN interconnection ( where consensus allows) except where agreeing a policy would be deemed anti competitive. NGN UK cannot set regulated policy. In such circumstances it shall recommend and suggest what the Exec feels is appropriate to Ofcom.

To develop the 2008 activity plan it was recommended that Exec members table those policy areas they wish to consider in 2008 at the January Exec.

Action 2 - 13/12/2007 - Exec members should table those initial policy areas they wish NGNuk to consider during 2008 at the January Exec ( By 24 January)

Action 3 - 13/12/2007 - Peter Ryde to circulate Neil McArthur's email regarding policy areas for consideration.

Where agreement cannot be reached on an area of policy the NGNuk Secretariat's role should be to consult with  Ofcom and to consider whether their involvement is appropriate.

Regarding Ofcom , NGNuk's role should be to alert Ofcom ,on behalf of the Exec, to potential policy issues plus their urgency and implications. Similarly Ofcom should provide their views to NGNuk of the issues NGNuk should prioritise.

Action 4 - 13/12/2007 - Exec members to table those policy areas they believe Ofcom should have as a priority for development during 2008 ( By 24 January) for discussion at the January Executive

Implications for the NGNuk Executive

Membership

The Exec did not feel that the role of Participating Members is affected by what is under consideration however it was agreed that further discussion be deferred until after the January Exec

Exec Meetings

It was agreed that the frequency of meetings will need to be dependent upon level of activity. The Exec agreed with the Secretariat recommendation to change to bi-monthly meetings ( from Feb 2008) with a monthly report to cover the month between. An option of a conference call would be retained for this intervening month should this be deemed appropriate by the Exec.

Agenda

It was agreed that it should require a member to sponsor each agenda item and that these should be supported by an appropriate Exec briefing .The Agenda plus briefing material will be circulated at least one week in advance.

Decision making

A brief discussion on decision making took place, however there was no identifiable need to amend the existing position established under the constitution.

Secretariat in 2008

The role of the Secretariat in 2008 will be to:

  • Facilitate work groups to support resolution of agreed BAU issues or policy work groups. Where appropriate collate outputs for presentation to NGNUK Exec or Ofcom. However, the Secretariat stressed that the NGNuk members will need to be far more proactive in participating in any agreed work packages given the anticipated budget reductions
  • Collate and distribute agenda material
  • Minute Executive meetings and report to the Executive and Ofcom as appropriate
  • Manage the external web site
  • Manage external contractors where these might be appointed
  • Provide an interface to Ofcom

Action 5 - 13/12/2007 - Secretariat to provide an outline budget for 2008 at the January Executive ( including a suggested  process for obtaining  additional funding where additional activity is requested by the Exec)

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AOB

There were no AOB items raised

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Next Meeting

The next meeting will be 10.00 to 14.00 on 31st January at Riverside House.

Peter Ryde

NGNuk Office

07771 555 048

020 7783 4688

peter.ryde@ngnuk.org.uk

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Update on Actions

Action 1 - 27/09/2007 - The Secretariat to seek further clarification and quantification of the likely impact and costs resulting from the NICC decision to adopt RTCP HR for the monitoring of all calls. Following the Executives view (Sept minutes) that insufficient detail had been provided this has been flagged back to NICC. An update meeting was held with members of TSG ( 8th November ) where this was discussed in more detail. At the end of the call there was no resolution of the issue however it was felt inappropriate to continue to seek a response.

Secretariat

Closed

Action 2 - 27/09/2007 - Peter Ryde to define more clearly the issues involved and recommend the level of Programme Management that is appropriate. This was discussed with the Exec and the Secretariat recommendation that this it was outside of the scope of NGNuk activity was accepted by the Exec

Peter Ryde

Closed

Action 3 -27/09/2007 - Peter Ryde to meet with suitable representatives of UKCTA to discuss the NGNuk view regarding the approach to developing the legal element of the NGN interconnect contract from UKCTA work with Consult21 and also how to ensure Mobile Operators engagement in this process Meeting held 29th October.  Report within Interconnect Framework section of agenda.

Peter Ryde

Completed

Action 5 - 27/09/2007 - Secretariat to develop scoping document for those commercial areas requiring agreed definitions. This to be reviewed with UKCTA . Following review to be represented to the Exec with a resource plan (and costs) Meeting arranged with UKCTA on 29th October. This has previously been discussed by the Executive (but omitted from the minutes) where is was agreed that whilst this was positive it was not felt to be an appropriate priority at this time

Secretariat

Ongoing

Action 6 - 27/09/2007 - The secretariat to request feedback from the Exec members on their thoughts regarding the key aims and attributes of the service principles. These to be collated by the secretariat and represented for discussion at the October Executive meeting. One response (Thus) to date.

Secretariat

Ongoing

Action 7 -27/09/2007 - Peter Ryde to meet with suitable representatives of NICC B2B work group to discuss the NGNuk view regarding the approach to developing the detailed billing processes and confirm that NICCB2B believe that they are  the suitable owners of such activity. Meeting held early October .  Report within Interconnect Framework section of agenda.

Peter Ryde

Completed

Action 8 - 27/09/2007 - The secretariat to request feedback from the Exec members on their thoughts regarding the key aims and attributes of the principles that need to be considered for Numbering and Addressing. These to be collated by the secretariat and represented for discussion at the October Executive meeting. Request sent to Exec, 2 responses.

Secretariat

Ongoing

Action 9 - 27/09/2007 - Peter Ryde to forward completed Data Requirements document to NICC Final version sent to NICC.

Peter Ryde

Completed

Action 10 - 27/09/2007 - Secretariat to follow up with NICC to obtain collective response from NICC regarding the Requirements submitted by NGNuk. A call took place between Peter Ryde (NGNuk) and Paul Rothbotham (NICC) on 24th October and a follow conference call held with TSG members . See NICC Update.

Secretariat

Completed

Action 1 - 25/10/2007 - Peter Ryde to circulate details of the dead line for a response to Gideon Sensensieb regarding the questions circulated to the CPs to support Ofcom's cost modelling work.

Peter Ryde

Completed

Action 2 - 25/10/2007 - Peter Ryde to inform the Exec of those CPs who had stated they intended to submit a response to the Straw man on Presence and Location

Peter Ryde

Completed

Action 3 - 25/10/2007 - Executive to provide comments on the draft paper regarding the future of NGNuk to the Secretariat by 16th November

Executive

Completed

Action 1 - 29/11/2007 -Summarise the debate on the Future of NGNuk ( in advance of the Exec minutes) and also to circulate a short paper well in advance of the December Exec ( 13th December) to allow further discussion at this meeting.

Peter Ryde

Completed

Action 2 - 29/11/2007 - Prepare documentation covering the background and approach to the charging work, the summarised responses of the members and recommendation for publication on the NGNuk web site. Exec sign off will be required prior to release.

Peter Ryde

Ongoing

Action 3 -29/11/2007- Update  UKCTA on the Exec's views regarding NGNuk providing an agreed industry position for UKCTA.

Peter Ryde

Completed

Action 4 -29/11/2007-  Update UKCTA on the Exec's views regarding the development of an Industry Heads of Agreement.

Peter Ryde

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New Actions

Action 1 - 13/12/2007 -  Secretariat to provide their views ( for discussion) at the January Exec on how the aims for 2008 outlined by the Exec will be achieved.

Secretariat

Action 2 - 13/12/2007 - Exec members should table those initial policy areas they wish NGNuk to consider during 2008 at the January Exec

Exec

By 24th Jan

Action 3 - 13/12/2007 - Peter Ryde to circulate Neil McArthur's email regarding policy areas for consideration

Peter Ryde

Action 4 - 13/12/2007 - Exec members to table those policy areas they believe Ofcom should have as a priority for development during 2008 for discussion at the January Executive

Ofcom

By 24th Jan

Action 5 - 13/12/2007 - Secretariat to provide an outline budget for 2008 at the January Executive ( including a suggested  process for obtaining  additional funding where additional activity is requested by the Exec)

Secretariat

 

 

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