Attendees:
Peter Black (NGNuk) - Chair
Clive Fedida (NGNuk)
Angus Flett (BT Wholesale)
Douglas Lamont (France Telecom)
Justin Fielder (Easynet)
Huw Saunders (Kingston Communications)
Phil Kirby (Vodafone)
Steve Unger (Ofcom)
Tony Siebert (Cable & Wireless)
Apologies:
Keith Monserrat (Ntl)
Phil Male (Thus)
1.1 The Chairman invited the meeting to share their thoughts on Hopes and Concerns for the NGNuk initiative.
1.2 Regarding hopes and aspirations, there was unanimous support for focusing on the commercial framework for IP Interconnect. This needs to reach a stable position as soon as possible to create the environment for future product investment and clarity for legacy commitments. It was strongly felt that NGNuk should be a catalyst for Operators to work together constructively for the benefit of UK plc and future NGN competition. There was consensus that NGNuk must bring the industry along with it.
1.3 Regarding members concerns, there was a worry that NGNuk might not deliver quickly enough to inform investment decisions and also that it might not be bold enough to break away from legacy thinking. NGNuk also needs to be alert to the dangers of straying into other domains or being drawn into 21C implementation issues.
2.1 NGNuk is about the future and it belongs to the industry. It is not BT-centric and should not be an extrapolation of the past.
2.2 There is a need to make explicit exactly what the industry requirements are that underpin the Ofcom themes set out in the ToR.
2.3 Transparency with the whole industry is essential. Member participation has to be worthwhile to NGNuk and to the Members. However, NGNuk is a forum for businesses making substantial investment in NGNs and NGN based services.
2.4 In order to encourage individual participation, it may be more appropriate for relevant Industry Groups (ie telecom service providers) to have explicit communications and lobbying routes rather than membership status. Ofcom is planning to deal separately with consumer groups.
2.5 Workgroups should be the 'doers' in NGNuk. Executive Members should expect to commit their expert resources. The NGNuk Office should act as independent chairs. Members should also participate in workgroups but overall numbers of active participants have to be limited for reasons of practicality and effectiveness. Workgroup objectives and ToR should be set by the NGNuk Executive. Documents should be public domain once agreed.
2.6 Although Executive Members are all well-versed in their obligations under Competition Law, it was felt prudent to have a refresher on this aspect of the NGNuk Executive workings and is being explicitly addressed. To that end, Peter Black will arrange a suitable presentation.
Action 1 - 30/3 - Peter Black will arrange a suitable presentation on impact on NGNuk of Competition Law.
3.1 Terms of Reference should set out 'what' NGNuk will do whilst the MOU should set out 'how' NGNuk will do it. The ToR will be included in the MOU.
3.2 It was felt that IP Architecture is more appropriately dealt with by the NICC however some aspects (not yet clear) will have commercial links. The primary theme for NGNuk was clearly agreed upon - namely the IP Interconnect Commercial model, supported by activites in Technical areas where they are not being addressed elsewhere. Other detailed comments were noted and will be incorporated in the first draft of the MOU.
3.3 There was discussion about the need to set some clear timescales. It was agreed that the ToR should cover this in terms of timeliness for early investment decisions to be taken. Practically, the meeting felt this was probably the end of 2006. It was agreed that setting explicit timescales should be part of the 90 day plan once the challenge had been more clearly defined.
3.4 The relationship between NGNuk and Consult21/NICC will be two way ie. there will be input from Consult21/NICC to enable the commercial work of NGNuk to succeed and output from NGNuk that will be useful to Consult21. Having joint members will help ensure these relationships work smoothly.
4.1 The purpose of the MOU is to set out the rules by which all members engage in NGNuk. It will be the document that should accompany invitations for membership when NGNuk is launched.
4.2 The process for the MOU will be for the NGNuk Office to prepare a first draft in the next 10 days and circulate to the Executive Members for feedback on matters of principle. The Executive will have the final say on the MOU but due attention must be paid to industry views.
Action 2 - 30/3 - NGNuk Office will prepare a first draft MOU in the next 10 days and circulate to the Executive Members for feedback on matters of principle.
4.3 Smaller operators will need to be convinced that their views are being taken account of. Direct involvement in the working groups will be a large part of this and the ultimate recourse to Ofcom will always remain.
4.4 Decision making should seek to achieve a substantial consensus even if this is merely to crystallise disagreement. There should be no independent adjudication process as it was thought that the issues likely to require resolution outside of the Executive would be of such a substantial nature that they would inevitably be referred to Ofcom.
4.5 IPR could be handled in a similar way to that adopted by the NICC.
4.6 Ofcom's involvement with NGNuk will be as a supportive observer, and ultimate escalation point.
5.1 If there are only to be two major workstreams ie Commercial and Technical, the need for two NGNuk officers instead of three looks likely at the moment.
5.2 The budget will be agreed by the Executive. Additional expenditure must be agreed by the Executive along with how the additional funds will be raised.
6.1 The target for completing the MOU should be by the next meeting on 27th April 2006.
6.2 It is urgent that all Executive Members arrange to meet with Peter Black for sessions to go through their NGN business plans and future NGN services vision. This will be helpful to enable us to formulate a draft industry vision and goals for NGNuk. Peter is also meeting with various Industry Groups to get their views on NGNuk.
Action 3 - 30/3 - All Executive Members to arrange to meet with Peter Black for sessions to go through their NGN business plans and future NGN services vision.
6.3 Douglas Lamont pressed for a fast-track session on the workstreams. He felt it was important to get the big issues out on the table as soon as possible to ensure we are being realistic in our aspirations. He was also concerned that NGNuk might take 90 days simply setting up without actually doing anything. It was agreed that all Executive members will send their list of Desired Outcomes and Key Issues to Peter Black in advance to allow a suitable session to be scheduled.
Action 4 - 30/3 - All Executive Members to send their list of Desired Outcomes and Key Issues to Peter Black to allow a suitable fast-track session on the workstreams to be scheduled.
7.1 Consult21 Commercial Group - Huw Saunders briefed the meeting that Consult21 is in the process of setting up a Commercial Group to commence working on this long overdue area. As it relates closely to the NGNuk ToR, Huw reported he is to draft the terms of reference for this new group.
Action 5 - 30/3 - Huw Saunders agreed to share the draft of terms of reference for the new Consult 21 Commercial Group.
7.2 Consult21 Network Hooks - Huw Saunders suggested that it might be useful for the Executive to receive a presentation from the co-chairs of the Consult21 Network Hooks Group to explain why the workgroup appears to be having difficulty making progress. Peter Black agreed this would be useful and asked if Huw could set it up.
Action 6 - 30/3 - Huw Saunders to set up a presentation from the co-chairs of the Consult21 Network Hooks Group to explain why the workgroup appears to be having difficulty making progress.
8.1 The meeting will be 10.00 to 14.00 on 27th April 2006 at Riverside House.
8.2 Future scheduled meetings:
| Date | Meeting | Time |
| 27/4/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
| 25/5/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
| 29/6/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
| 27/7/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
| 31/8/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
| 28/9/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
| 26/10/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
| 30/11/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
| 14/12/2006 | NGNuk Meeting | 10.00 - 14.00 |
Clive Fedida
NGNuk Office
07802 782357
020 7783 4684
clive.fedida@ngnuk.org.uk
| Action 1- 30/3 | Peter Black will arrange a suitable presentation on impact on NGNuk of Competition Law. | Peter Black |
| Action 2 - 30/3 | NGNuk Office will prepare a first draft MOU in the next 10 days and circulate to the Executive Members for feedback on matters of principle | Peter Black |
| Action 3 - 30/3 | All Executive Members to arrange to meet with Peter Black for sessions to go through their NGN business plans and future NGN services vision. | All Executive Members |
| Action 4 - 30/3 | All Executive Members to send their list of Desired Outcomes and Key Issues to Peter Black to allow a suitable fast-track session on the workstreams to be scheduled. | All Executive Members |
| Action 5 - 30/3 | Huw Saunders agreed to share the draft of terms of reference for the new Consult 21 Commercial Group. | Huw Saunders |
| Action 6 - 30/3 | Huw Saunders to set up a presentation from the co-chairs of the Consult21 Network Hooks Group to explain why the workgroup appears to be having difficulty making progress. | Huw Saunders |