I am pleased to issue the first NGNuk Chairman's Update and to be in a position to call for applications for membership. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of NGN interoperation in the UK and I look forward to dynamic and innovative solutions to the UK industry's evolution onto Next Generation Network Platforms and Capabilities.
You will recall that, following extensive industry consultation, Ofcom proposed in its report, "Next Generation Networks: Developing the Regulatory Framework" dated 7th March 2006 a number of policies and processes to support the development of next generation networks (NGNs) in the UK. One of the proposals was the development of NGNuk as an independent NGN industry body, with a view to creating an improved framework for industry engagement. It is Ofcom's clear intention that the Executive Members of NGN would be those Communications Operators who are investing in, or planning to invest substantially in NGNs with the clear intent to interconnect with other NGNs and that the wider Membership should reflect the wide range of NGN stakeholders in the UK. I have been asked to act as Independent Executive Chair and manage the NGNuk officers until the NGNuk Executive confirms their choice for Chair. Clive Fedida is currently Technical Work-Stream Director.
NGNuk has been in its start-up phase of operation since the 1st of April 2006. The executive of founding members has met twice and the minutes are available at www.ngnuk.org.uk/executive.htm. A number of activities have been taking place to ensure NGNuk is ready to take on the remit Ofcom has given it. The founding Executive Members, Ofcom, and the NGNuk Officers have been finalising the Terms of Reference and the Constitution, final drafts both of which accompany this update. We have received excellent input from a number of Communications Providers, Industry Bodies and other interested parties during this time and we hope to continue to do so. The NGNuk officers are meeting with Communications Providers on a bi-lateral, in confidence, basis to ensure we fully understand their requirements and the status of their Business and Deployment plans for NGNs.
We have identified two streams of work, the Commercial Work-Stream and the Technical Work-Stream. The Executive felt that the Commercial Work-Stream was the most urgent to get started, therefore we are in the process of recruiting a director to manage the Commercial Work-Stream. Work continues however to establish the Key Issues that the Commercial Work-Stream has to address. The initial Terms of Reference will be set by the Executive on the 31st of May. It is also anticipated that the Terms of Reference will evolve as new issues surface and that there will be interdependent issues between the two Work-Streams.
In addition to our short term 90 day plan we also have an outline roadmap taking us through to next year.
The final draft NGNuk Constitution that is being considered by the NGNuk Executive is attached and available on the NGNuk website, www.ngnuk.org.uk/structure.htm I was particularly sensitive to making sure that NGN stakeholders had a mechanism to get input into the NGNuk debate regardless of size and business model. If you wish to consider whether your organisation should be a member of NGNuk, please read the attached final draft Constitution containing the Terms of Reference. Becoming a member will mean you agree to abide by the Constitution as it applies to your type of membership. It is planned that NGNuk will be fully operational on the 1st of July 2006 and no longer funded by Ofcom, therefore if you wish to be a Member by that time then please have your application with us by close of business on Friday 26th of May as the next NGNuk Executive is on the 31st of May 2006. Further applications will be accepted after this date, but your membership start date may be delayed. Executive membership, subject to the criteria, is £40,000.00 per annum. Participating membership is £5,000.00 per annum. Please email us at info@ngnuk.org.uk with a short summary of your interest in membership and we will get back to you with a simple form and deed of adherence.
The Current executive members are:
I look forward to receiving your applications for membership; most importantly I look forward to the wealth of input we will get from the membership, particularly from your subject matter experts feeding into the Work Groups.
I expect to provide regular updates on our website
Peter McD. Black
Executive Chairman