In starting this month's Chairman's update, I would like to confirm an NGNuk Management change that many of you will have been aware has been planned for several months.
Peter Black has been Executive Chairman of NGNuk since its inception some 2 years ago, as well as leading the OTA for the last four years. In order to pursue other projects and opportunities, initially in managing the number portability project for Ofcom, Peter recruited me as his potential replacement last summer with a view to stepping down from both NGNuk and OTA at the end of March this year. Consequently I have now taken over full responsibility from 1st April.
Over the last few NGNuk Executive meetings, our discussions have focused on the ongoing role of NGNuk. Over this period I received strong feedback from members that NGNuk continues to be strongly supported and that it should continue, but that its remit should evolve so that it provides a forum where senior industry representatives can debate and review key issues associated with NGN deployment, to identify areas of common concern and to ensure that the views of the forum are expressed externally to relevant bodies.
At the March 2008 Executive meeting, this position was reconfirmed by all those attending and the budget for 2008/2009 was unanimously approved.
During 2008 therefore, in addition to completing the outstanding work from the last financial year, the role of the Secretariat will be developed to carry forward the output of the Executive to brief and inform those organisations who are likely to be affected.
I am looking forward the year ahead and in particular to engaging with all NGNuk stakeholders to further develop the remit we have accepted.