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An informal meeting of network operators was held on 3 April 2002 at the instigation of the European Commission to discuss arrangements required for interconnection of networks involved in the carriage of ETNS calls are available. The meeting follows the adoption of the European Union Universal Service Directive that specifies an obligation on network operators to handle calls to ETNS numbers.
The draft report of the meeting follows.
The Chairman (Mr. Koolen, European Commission) opened the meeting and welcomed the participants. He stressed that this was an informal meeting that had been organised to identify and help clarify issues of importance for establishing a European Telephony Numbering Space (ETNS) for pan-European numbered services. As the numbering issues have largely been resolved, he said that the purpose of this meeting was to raise awareness and focus on interconnection issues.
Ms Keegan (European Commission) explained the provisions as regards the ETNS in the new framework for electronic communications. She stressed the obligation on operators to complete calls to 3883 numbers. The key notion to allow cost recovery was needed to reach political agreement. Where necessary, ERG would need to coordinate NRA intervention. She mentioned that the new framework and associated Directives were published on this same day. MS KEEGAN’S PRESENTATION
Mr Sutherland (Executive Director, INTUG) talked about the market opportunities of an ETNS. He referred to the difficulties seen in other global numbering services and the critical factor that would make a regional numbering service a success: coverage and price. He said that telco managers are very interested but that nobody would commit until questions on how, what it would cost etc have been answered. MR SUTHERLAND’S PRESENTATION
The ETNS architectural concept was explained by Mr Bernardi (NeuStar) and Mr Humphries (CEPT ERO). Mr Bernardi referred to the database system and procedures put in place for numbering assignment and how numbers would be distributed through the ETNS serving and service networks. Mr. Humphries elaborated on the decisions that have been taken in the context of the CEPT/ECC by European Administrations for regulatory oversight of the ETNS. MR BERNARDI’S PRESENTATION — MR HUMPHRIES’ PRESENTATION
Mr Tunney (Tele2) elaborated on some sample interconnection and associated pricing models for the ETNS, based on published benchmark tariffs. He said that the focus of the effort is to demonstrate viability, i.e. using sample interconnection models to show what room there is to make the ETNS business concept work. MR TUNNEY’S PRESENTATION
In the ensuing discussion, several issues were raised, about the possible limitations of the ITU framework e.g. with regard to a possible duplication of global services, the commercial freedom to negotiate interconnection arrangements and any possible anti-competitive effects of pursuing common interconnection and tariff models, and the types of ETNS services where it was recognised that services were a commercial issue.
The Chairman said that the ETNS may support a spectrum of services with varying pricing arrangements and is unique by itself because of its highly flexible architecture and the fact that it will provide ubiquitous EU coverage which could not be ensured by any other scheme. Ms Keegan further pointed out that in the case of a conflict, the provisions in Community law prevail over international rules and recommendations such as those agreed in the ITU. Any incompatibilities between international commitments and Community law need to be eliminated (Article 307 EC Treaty).
On interconnection and pricing, it was agreed that work should be pursued on the basis of sample/best practice models. The issue of services delivery (types of services, pricing schemes etc.) was said to be highly commercial where operators would be reluctant to engage in joint debate. Although accepting that this is pre-eminently a commercial issue, the Chairman pointed out that there are public interests associated with the structure of the numbering space (for various service categories) and the designation of numbers.
Mr Mecrow (MMO2) proposed to look into alternative arrangements for providing pan-European services, such as GSM based schemes. The Chairman said that an input paper would be welcome but that this does not alter the legal obligation in the new Framework which requires operators to connect all calls destined for the ETNS.
Mr Wiedenhaupt (ETNO) presented an ETNO input paper which raises a number of issues of concern. Many of the issues refer to interconnection, pricing and billing but there were also some issues in the regulatory domain that require further clarification.
It was concluded to categorise the issues as follows:
The work would need to focus on providing best practice models, based on standard interconnection and tariff building blocks.
A group led by Mr Tunney (chairman of the ETNS Steering Group Interconnection Working Group) would look into interconnection, pricing, costing and billing issues raised, in particular the points 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the ETNO contribution.
The Commission Services would need to provide clarification on the detailed aspects related to the legal obligation to connect, to achieve consistent and coherent interpretation by Member States and NRAs (for instance by agreeing an European Regulators Group position). Main points mentioned: ‘handle’ all calls; transit networks, serving and service networks; recovery of conveyance cost.
ERO, where appropriate, together with the European Commission and the ECC PT3 need to provide clarification on the structure, availability and use of routing numbers and any possible restrictions that might arise (national measures and possible barriers on the use of routeing numbers across borders, operator boundaries with regard to usage of routeing numbers). ECC PT3, in conjunction with ERO, to take action to ensure that all EU Member States do sign up for the relevant ECC Decisions in this field.
The European Commission, together with ERO, would further undertake to clarify the issues referred to in points 1, 3, 11, 12, and 16 (and 17 and 18) of the ETNO contribution.
It was regarded that point 14 is a purely commercial issue, to be resolved by each operator.
Points 13 and 15 have a significant commercial flavour and should be addressed by the commercial players involved. ERO and the European Commission will initiate a process for resolving them.
It was considered that a public workshop in the autumn (as envisioned by the ETNS Steering Committee) was too far away and that this would result in a loss of dynamics in the debate. It was therefore agreed that the next meeting of the group would take place on 13 June 2002 in Brussels (and would replace the meeting of the ETNS Steering Committee that had been foreseen for that same date).
NOTE: During subsequent discussions among members of the ETNS Steering Committee, it was recognised that necessary preparatory work for a follow-up meeting could not be completed by 13 June. Consequently, it is planned to hold a follow-up meeting on a date in September to be advised.
Although there was a feeling in the meeting that services are very much a commercial issue, commercial players privately expressed to the European Commission that it would be useful to develop guidelines for Service Providers for delivering services such as, for instance, calling card services, call centre services etc, on the basis of the ETNS concept. Such guidelines would need to set out the necessary steps that potential service providers should follow to get going with their business. It was also felt that the demand side needs to be further developed.
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