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NICCNICC

Network Interfaces Coordinating CommitteeNetwork Interfaces Coordinating Committee__

Network Interoperability Consultative CommitteeNetwork Interoperability Consultative Committee

Professor John O’ReillyChairman, NICC

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The Origin of NICC - The Origin of NICC - 1990 Duopoly Review1990 Duopoly ReviewConclusion 2.28 (Paragraph 7.30) :Conclusion 2.28 (Paragraph 7.30) :

The Director General has decided that all licences should The Director General has decided that all licences should contain a condition which would enable him to specify contain a condition which would enable him to specify essential network interfaces. The intention is to take a reserve essential network interfaces. The intention is to take a reserve power to specify that network interoperability on those power to specify that network interoperability on those designated interfaces must be available in accordance with designated interfaces must be available in accordance with prescribed standards. These would normally be the relevant prescribed standards. These would normally be the relevant European Telecommunications Standards or European Telecommunications Standards or recommendations of the International Telecommunications recommendations of the International Telecommunications Union. Exceptionally, in the absence or inadequacy of either Union. Exceptionally, in the absence or inadequacy of either of these, it might be appropriate for the Director General to of these, it might be appropriate for the Director General to determine other requirements. Operators would remain free to determine other requirements. Operators would remain free to decide the technology used for implementing such standards.decide the technology used for implementing such standards.

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The Origin of NICC - The Origin of NICC - 1990 Duopoly Review1990 Duopoly Review

Conclusion 2.29 (Paragraph 7.32):Conclusion 2.29 (Paragraph 7.32):

The Government will help facilitate the establishment of a The Government will help facilitate the establishment of a

UK consultative forum in which operators, manufacturers, UK consultative forum in which operators, manufacturers,

and users can address the standards and related technical and users can address the standards and related technical

issues associated with introducing more competition. The issues associated with introducing more competition. The

role of this forum would be to advise the Director General in role of this forum would be to advise the Director General in

relation to any essential network interfaces. Where relation to any essential network interfaces. Where

appropriate it might also seek to influence the future appropriate it might also seek to influence the future

development of European and international standards.development of European and international standards.

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1992 Proposed Structure1992 Proposed Structure

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The Early Years 1992-1994The Early Years 1992-1994 Chairman - Dr. David Leakey “Seed” NICC members appointed by Oftel Interest Group structure developed Focus -

CLI Presentation Interconnect signalling

1994 - Work programme review - aligned with Oftel programme needs accountability and timescales clarified

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From our first ChairmanFrom our first Chairman

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Some of the names!Some of the names!

Inaugural MeetingInaugural Meeting2626thth November 1992 at Export House November 1992 at Export House

Bill Wigglesworth, DG OftelBill Wigglesworth, DG Oftel

Vivienne Peters, Heath Rees, Ron Bell, David Norton, Vivienne Peters, Heath Rees, Ron Bell, David Norton,

John Leeson, John Pickin, Ian McBride, Keith John Leeson, John Pickin, Ian McBride, Keith

Monserrat, Trevor Harvey, Rajan Chadha, Nick Monserrat, Trevor Harvey, Rajan Chadha, Nick

Pellew, Alan Jones, John Boag, Peter Kiddle, Pellew, Alan Jones, John Boag, Peter Kiddle,

Tony Valvona (BSI), David Leakey (BSI/TCT)Tony Valvona (BSI), David Leakey (BSI/TCT)

Barry Cartman (BABT)Barry Cartman (BABT)

Arthur Orbell, Mohinder Mahi (Oftel)Arthur Orbell, Mohinder Mahi (Oftel)

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1995 – Year of Change:1995 – Year of Change:From NICC to NICCFrom NICC to NICC Objective -Objective -

NICC to play a more constructive role advising on the NICC to play a more constructive role advising on the

technical aspects of the competitive services markettechnical aspects of the competitive services market

Remit broadened -Remit broadened -

To embrace wider issues of interworking and To embrace wider issues of interworking and

interoperability of services in addition to original focus interoperability of services in addition to original focus

on network interfaceson network interfaces

Result - Name change - Result - Name change -

Network Interoperability Consultative CommitteeNetwork Interoperability Consultative Committee

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Terms of ReferenceTerms of Reference The NICC shall, for interoperability between networks, and The NICC shall, for interoperability between networks, and

between networks and customer equipment:between networks and customer equipment:advise the Director General on existing interfaces that advise the Director General on existing interfaces that

need to be declared and adequately specified;need to be declared and adequately specified;advise the Director General on new and emerging advise the Director General on new and emerging

interfaces for which a common presentation would be interfaces for which a common presentation would be beneficial to users;beneficial to users;

stimulate work by expert groups and standards stimulate work by expert groups and standards committees on common presentations of these and committees on common presentations of these and other interfaces; other interfaces;

liaise with those responsible for national liaise with those responsible for national implementation of European Directives, Guidelines and implementation of European Directives, Guidelines and Standards to maximise consistency between NICC and Standards to maximise consistency between NICC and European standardisation activities.European standardisation activities.

The NICC, may, for other technical issues, advise the The NICC, may, for other technical issues, advise the Director General on any other matters which it considers Director General on any other matters which it considers should be brought to his attention.should be brought to his attention.

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1995 to present day1995 to present day

1995 - New Chairman (John O’Reilly)1995 - New Chairman (John O’Reilly) 1995 - 1st NICC Open Forum, Keynote address by DG1995 - 1st NICC Open Forum, Keynote address by DG 1996 - Service Providers Interest Group relaunched1996 - Service Providers Interest Group relaunched 1997 - NICC Users Panel formed1997 - NICC Users Panel formed

“ “to draw out the views of a wide range of users, to draw out the views of a wide range of users, working by correspondence, on the service offerings working by correspondence, on the service offerings users are looking for”users are looking for”

1997 - Electronic working facilities introduced – now 1997 - Electronic working facilities introduced – now the normthe norm

2003 – Into the 2003 – Into the OfcomOfcom era! era!

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Significant Achievements?Significant Achievements? Many and varied technical achievements from a very Many and varied technical achievements from a very

large number of projectslarge number of projects The degree of commitment, substantial and The degree of commitment, substantial and

sustained, from across the sector – individuals, sustained, from across the sector – individuals, companies and other organisations – has been companies and other organisations – has been crucially importantcrucially important

We have developed a ‘way of working’ that has We have developed a ‘way of working’ that has served the telecommunications sector and served the telecommunications sector and consumers very well indeedconsumers very well indeed

An excellent example of co-regulation operating in An excellent example of co-regulation operating in practice – and model for ‘Industry – Regulator’ practice – and model for ‘Industry – Regulator’ partnership that I very much hope will continue into partnership that I very much hope will continue into the Ofcom era! the Ofcom era!

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Thank youThank you for your attention, for your attention,

for your support,for your support,

for your participationfor your participation

in the work of NICCin the work of NICC