Carrier Pre-Select

Under TSR, Ofcom recognised that Equivalence of Input should not be applied to Carrier Pre-Select (CPS). BT, however, is required to provide improved transparency of its CPS product and to identify performance differences. Although BT’s downstream businesses do not deploy CPS services, BT is producing a Reference Offer relating to Narrowband SMP Services and BT’s internal arrangements for Network Access.

BT believes it has made substantial progress on CPS replicability and will continue to work with the industry to identify and resolve any residual issues.

What has changed?

Carrier Pre-Selection Operators now able to place CPS Orders on Saturdays;
CPS Gateway Service Level Agreements targets have been increased from 90% to 98%;
BT Retail is now required to follow the forecasting regime documented in the CPS Process Document and forecast CPS "Return to BT" orders;
BT Retail will now be charged for CPS "Return to BT" orders.

A complete list of "conflicting products" is now available on the BTWholesale CPS web page (www.btwholesale.com/cps);

All the above changes are in place and being utilised.

What is planned to change?

Availability of the Name and Address Database to help with "Post Code" mismatch rejections.
This will be available by the end of December 2005.
Migration of customers between "Calls Products" and "Calls Providers", to include a "bulk" capability; this enhancement is currently in design and planned for launch April 2006.
Carrier Pre-Selection Operators will have the capability to manage Change of Address (different number) orders. This enhancement is currently in design and planned for launch August 2006.

Other developments

BT is investigating the possibility of giving Carrier Pre-Selection Operators the capability to invoke "Cancel Other" via the CPS Gateway;
This requirement is currently subject to a feasibility assessment, due to report before the end of December 2005;
BT and CPS operators have suggested a review of the "reasons for rejection" of CPS orders;
The Industry have agreed that this activity should be carried out once the WLR3 rules have been understood and agreed, expected mid to late 2006.

How will BT be engaging with Industry in the future?

BT is a key participant in the following Industry forums;

Ofcom Service Providers Forum
WA and CPS Commercial Group
CPS Process Group
WA and CPS IT forum
CPS Order Desk Managers Meeting.

Issues are raised at these meetings and discussed on an Industry wide basis, resulting in the implementation of enhancements to the product and/or systems.

Who will be affected by the planned changes?

The planned changes are being developed such that only those Carrier Pre-Selection Operators wishing to take advantage of the new functionality will need to modify their own systems. BT will not force Carrier Pre-Selection Operators to modify systems for either Change of address or the Migrations developments.

What will the Carrier Pre-Selection Operators see as being different?

Improved functionality of the CPS Gateway will be the key difference.

What will be the benefits for the Carrier Pre-Selection Operators?

Improved functionality of the CPS Gateway will be the key benefit.

Will customers need to do anything to prepare for these changes?

No.

Will customer contracts change?

There is no plan to change contracts on the basis of the implementation of BT’s Undertakings alone. However, there may be a need to amend contracts in the event of any significant developments, and if so this would be discussed in the appropriate forums as business as usual.

Will prices change as a result of the Undertakings?

There is no plan to change CPS prices on the basis of Undertakings alone. Customers can find additional information at http://www.btwholesale.com/cps.