Working Group Updates

Systems & Processes Working Group

Following the large amount of consultation that has occurred around the Framework document, the Systems and Process (S & P) Working Group has concluded that they have captured Industry requirements for future 21CN based systems and processes. The information has come from various consultation sources including a number of expert sub-groups on topics such as Provision/Repair/Send to bill.

In order to complete the consultation and validate the information already gathered, members of the Working Group will be attending all the other Consult21 Working Groups through April and May. They will present the work to date and capture any additional responses that may be generated before the final document is published. The Framework document will then be presented by the Co-Chairperson, Geoff Izzard of NTL to Ofcoms Network Interoperability Consultative Committee (NICC) where it will form the basis of defining standards moving forward.

The next monthly Working Group is scheduled for 2 May 2006. Following this meeting, it has been agreed that the S&P Working Group should meet on a quarterly basis. They will meet on a monthly basis when required to review SORs and other systems related work from other Consult21 Working Groups.

Network Hooks and Common Capabilities Working Group

The Working Group re-convened on 22 March following the progression of standards in the Network Hooks space by Telecommunications and Internet Services and Protocols for Advanced Networks (TISPAN). TISPAN are responsible for all New Generation Network (NGN) related standardisation work. The lack of definition had held up the activity of the group to date.

Andy Fielden (BT Co-Chair) proposed that the main focus of this working group should be on discussing Network Hooks, Service Assembly Environment and Common Capabilities as distinct subject areas. The group then debated their definitions and how to progress future discussions and in what forum.

The current proposal is that Network Hooks will be defined in detail and elements of discussions will continue in Ofcoms Network Interoperability Consultative Committee (NICC), Next Generation Network–UK (NGN-UK) and other Working Groups within Consult21.

BT Wholesale product management team clarified the use of Common Capabilities in future BT products. They also said that BT is now working on a new way to engage Communication Providers to fully capture their requirements outside of the Consult21 framework.  

The proposed Service Assembly Environment (SAE) – building products using Common Capabilities in a pick-n-mix fashion – was also discussed. BT has recognised that SAE is less developed than previously indicated and will be demonstrating a trial version later in 2006.

Interconnect & Portfolio Working Group

The Interconnect and Portfolio Working Group is currently focusing on two key areas. 

The first being to understand customers’ requirements for two specific 21CN interconnect products.

• An interconnect circuit product to allow a Communication Providers (CP’s) Next Generation Network (NGN) to connect to BT’s NGN – known as a Multi-service Interconnect Link (MSIL). These links will need to be a single product that can deal with the full range of NGN services, unlike the current legacy network Interconnect Link products that are all separate with their own individual technology and pricing structures

• A replacement for the current PSTN product which is known as ‘PSTN Emulation’.

Each product means there is a large amount of technical and commercial detail to be agreed. The initial Consultations have now closed and the Consult21 team are very grateful for the contributions from industry which have provided enough information for BT to begin feasibility work on the MSIL product.

Another area of work is the proposed Virtual Interconnection Capacity (VIC) product. This is proving to be a difficult area to find an acceptable solution for all but both sides are working hard to achieve this. 

For further information, please contact chris.evans@bt.com

Consult21 Network Structure Working Group

Over time, lots of terminology has been developed that reflects the individual platforms that make up the current network. As 21CN will be a single platform covering all products, there needs to be a single set of terms that can apply universally to all products.  

Work is being undertaken by the Network Structure Working Group to form a common language for everyone, to aid understanding of the new NGN platform. The group intends to produce documents that can be shared by everyone in Consult21 to help understand this new NGN terminology.  

The group is also available to help any other Product Working Group with technical issues concerning the network. 

For further information, please contact chris.evans@bt.com

Implementation & Migration Working Group: Command & Control Experts

BT issued the results of its two month long requirements capture with Communications Providers on Migration Command & Control on 3 April initiating a final period of consultation.

Migration Command & Control Experts was created in January 2006 by the Implementation & Migration Working Group to develop a common understanding of structures and interfaces required between BT and Communication Providers to manage the migration of End Customers to 21CN. A second key task for the group is to identify and define the information required to facilitate End Customer management during migration such as work schedules.

Liz Walsh of Consult21 said that migration was a complex activity happening over a long timeframe and therefore it was important that everyone was clear on what information would be exchanged, in what format and when. Everyone was working hard to make sure that migration of End Customers goes smoothly, but in a programme of the size and complexity of 21CN, it's inevitable that something will not go according to plan – it's too late on the night to realise that we don’t know who to contact.

Requirements were collated following two Industry Workshops held in January and March, attended by a cross section of Communications Providers and include feedback received outside these sessions. Communication Providers had until 24 April to participate in the Requirements Capture.

If you would like more information on this Working Group, please contact liz.e.walsh@bt.com

Conformance Testing Working Group

The Conformance Testing Working Group met for the first time on 31 March, co-chaired by Jim Feenan, General Manager, Operational Readiness and Industry co-chair Chris Lawrence of BT Retail. Jim shared with the meeting his belief that, Testing was a vital component in ensuring that both BT and Communication Providers are operationally ready for 21CN End Customer migration and the importance of Communication Providers being involved in the development and agreement of the Testing Programme. 

Following the conclusion of the Testing Proposal for Obligatory Products pre-consultation on 1 March, BT Wholesale re-issued its 21CN Testing Proposal for Obligatory Products to Communication Providers on 14 March, marking the move into the Consultation Phase. The updated proposal provides more information on BT’s Voice Trials and included the Test Requirement process which will operate during the ongoing consultation to capture Communication Provider requirements for additional testing. BT will be releasing shortly its first batch of Core Tests for industry consultation.

In parallel with the current consultation on Core Tests, BT is currently developing a Testing Plan which will underpin its Testing Proposal and which will provide a framework for both BT and Communication Providers as they move forward into the Test Execution Phase from June 2006 onwards. The Testing Plan is scheduled for release in early May 2006.

If you would like more information on this Working Group, please contact liz.e.walsh@bt.com

Implementation & Migration Working Group

The Implementation & Migration Working Group held its twelfth meeting on 21 March co-chaired by Mike Cook (BT) and Chris Danzelman (C&W). The meeting reviewed BT’s plans for handling Emergency & Critical numbers during the migration of End Customer PSTN lines, further detailed information on how BT will enact the transfers of PSTN Voice End Customers to 21CN and how BT selects and prepares its 21CN network node sites.

Debra Covey, Managing Director, Operations for BT Wholesale joined the meeting for an open forum in the afternoon, sharing her views on the Programme and providing the opportunity for Communication Providers to ask questions and raise concerns directly, prompting a lively debate! Deb emphasised BT’s commitment to the migration of End Customers starting in November 2006 and stressed her own and her teams’ personal commitment to making migration successful.

The next Implementation & Migration Working Group is on 26 April and will include sessions on fallback methods to underpin 21CN migration of End Customers for PSTN voice, a practical understanding of voice resilience in 21CN and BT’s 21CN network preparation programme.

Consult21 is also planning a special Working Group meeting in early May aiming at improving Communication Providers understanding of BT’s Pathfinder (Initial phase of End Customer Migration) Plan. Details will be confirmed via the Planner.

If you would like more information on this Working Group, please contact liz.e.walsh@bt.com