August 2007
Welcome to the summer edition of our occasional bulletins on the Undertakings. In this issue we report on recent major deliverables including BT's use of analogue wholesale line rental from 30th June and the introduction of controls over access to Openreach OSS systems from the same date. We also look forward to two further looming deliverables: ISDN2 at the end of September and ISDN30 at the turn of the year. We also offer updates and progress reports on a range of other Undertakings activities.The Equality of Access Board published its annual report in May 2007. A copy can be viewed at or downloaded from here.
The EAB's report covers their work over the preceding year and records their view on BT's delivery of and compliance with its Undertakings over that period.
BT recently published its latest Key Performance Indicator (KPI) report, tracking the delivery of product level service to BT and to Communications Providers. A description of the report and links to a copy can be found towards the end of this bulletin.
I should also mention some changes in personnel consequential to the BT restructuring mentioned elsewhere. Clive Ansell has moved on from his Group Strategy role to a major new role in BT's Global Services Division. His strategic responsibilities move to Olivia Garfield and his regulatory, undertakings and policy responsibilities move to Emma Gilthorpe in a new role as Director, Industry Policy and Regulation. Readers may know Emma from her time at Openreach and, prior to that, with Cable and Wireless. A further change which may be of interest is the replacement of Paul Reynolds as CEO of BT Wholesale with Sally Davis. Paul is taking up a new role as CEO of Telecom New Zealand. Sally was previously BT's Group Portfolio Officer. Before joining BT in 1999, Sally held senior positions in several major communications companies - including Bell Atlantic in the US and Mercury Communications in the UK.
Peter McCarthy-Ward
Director of Equivalence
One of the key Undertakings is BT's commitment to use equivalent inputs for its PSTN service from the RFS date. The input product BT has chosen to use for this is the third generation Wholesale Line Rental product ("WLR3") offered to the industry by Openreach. This section gives a quick update on where we are with meeting that commitment.
BT is making good progress towards the latest set of RFS dates for WLR Digital (ISDN2 and ISDN30). For ISDN2 RFS at the end of September 2007, a tactical solution will be put in place using the Wholesale Line Rental (WLR2) product (SPG and Eco Repair) which will include additional functionality for events and exhibitions. It is anticipated that Openreach will deliver a strategic ISDN2 solution using the WLR3 product in March 2008.
View complete article "Progress towards WLR ISDN2 RFS and WLR ISDN30 RFS"
BT is pleased to announce that the majority of the installed base of BT’s retail Short Haul Data Services Services (excluding those covered by exemptions) was successfully migrated to EOI status over the weekend of 16th/17th June 2007.
A key milestone in exemption request #9 from Ofcom’s Statement of 21st December 2006 was reached on 30th June 2007. Since this date, all requests for DSLAM footprint growth in 20CN sites should be requested and provided on an EOI basis via the normal LLU ordering and provisioning process (the only exception is for extensions to existing BT Wholesale DSLAMs installed in existing line suites). This specifically means that for any 20CN site where BT Wholesale have a DSLAM footprint growth site they have to use Openreach LLU tie cables and a Handover Distribution Frame (HDF).
View complete article "Use of tie cables and HDF for DSLAMs"
From 1st July an EOI process was made available to all Communications Providers (CPs) for converting an end user’s line with either an ISDN2 or Highway service to Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) and Shared Metallic Path Facility (SMPF) services, over which CPs can provide telephony and broadband services to their end users.
Ofcom granted on 19th July an Openreach request for an exemption to the Undertakings’ EOI requirement for its input into the Managed Radio Communication Services (MRCS). The exemption expires at the end of September 2007, when Openreach will launch an EOI service.
View complete article "Plans for Upstream Managed Radio Communications Services RFS"
Ofcom published in June a variation to the Undertakings following consultation. It provided for interim milestones to be met on the way to full physical separation of Operational Support Systems in 2010.
Broadband performance continues to improve; we have seen some good results throughout the year which has had a positive impact on the customer experience. This hasn’t happened by chance, we have concentrated our effort on improving processes and procedures and improving system capabilities.
View complete article "Broadband performance continues to improve"
On 1st July, BT recently implemented the first phase of a new organisational structure designed to improve service delivery, remove duplication and accelerate decision-making for the benefit of all its customers.
BT publishes quarterly product KPIs which compare the service standard BT received itself; and the average standard received by other communications providers. The latest KPIs, covering the period to June 2007 can be viewed here.