FCS UPDATE
www.comms-dealer.com
Mobile market review
The mobile sector is under continuing regulatory
oversight by Ofcom and the Government.
Here, Jacqui Brookes, CEO of the FCS,
addresses a new set of regulatory questions.
Clearly, delays in issuing a could change the economic
PAC is a major finding and signals to incentivise a direct
Ofcom is undertaking a new routing process such as changing
pre-enforcement compliance the Donor Conveyance Charge
study to root out customer from the call terminator to the
problems with MNOs and MVNOs. call originator for both fixed to
Customers and Industry have mobile and mobile to mobile
the opportunity to respond to calls. This would lead to more
Ofcom citing experience with cost for the fixed industry, and
PAC acquisition for customers. mandate direct routing for mobile
Ofcom next plans to appoint to mobile calls. Ofcom would set
an independent consultancy to the timetable with a target date
work with industry to develop of 2012 for implementation.
Jacqui Brookes technical specifications and cost
implications for each option. Clearly, each company has
T
he Digital Britain Report to change as consumer research Ofcom is clearly intent on change. to consider what is the best
issued in June promised has identified problems. In its commercial and reputational
more spectrum for mobile review, accompanied by detailed In a second and parallel option for itself, but should the
operators to roll out customer research, including a consultation Ofcom is looking at industry come forward with its
3G/4G networks, but the sticking mystery shopping exercise, 71 per options for routing calls to ported own proposals (Ofcom would
point has been how to divvy it cent of customers have said that numbers. The current process of seek CEO buy in and a detailed
up. There is apparent impasse in porting matters to them, and 80 onward routing, or tromboning, project plan)? In the mean time,
discussions between operators, per cent were satisfied with the creates inefficiency with additional Ofcom proposes that a third
and the Adjudicator continues to porting process they had used. switching and transmission costs party is appointed to develop a
seek an acceptable outcome. In However, the research identified that increase costs to industry technical specification. During
the mean time, following on from ‘tip of the iceberg’ problems and higher costs for end users. these consultations Ofcom appears
the UK Porting debacle in 2008, associated with acquiring a PAC Although direct routing was to have less focus on the needs
Ofcom has spent the last year in order to port and the amount discussed during the UK Porting of CPs and new entrants, who
looking at two areas of activity of save activity by the donor programme, Ofcom notes that to must put forward their opinions
where there is potential customer operator. Delays in allocating a date industry has not considered and be included in the forward
detriment – mobile number PAC can lead to the total porting a voluntary move to direct routing. engagement of sorting out UK
portability and call routing. The process taking up to six days. The This may be due to the regulatory mobile porting and routing.
Ofcom team have used evidence existing GC18 is unable to deal with processes around Mobile Call
from the mobile industry to assess the deficiencies with current PAC Termination Rates – another Another consultation, ‘Mostly
the costs of its new proposals process and it is incompatible with recent consultation leading to Mobile’, is also underway in parallel
for MNP and routing, which the proposed changes to 1 day the Terminate the Rate campaign with the two described above. CPs
should avoid a further complaint porting in the European Telecoms – and the levels of mobile porting will have an opportunity to quiz
to the Competition Appeals package, expected in 2011. not justifying the cost of change. Ofcom’s mobile team on all these
Tribunal by affected operators. consultations and what it means for
On this basis Ofcom considered Again, Ofcom considered four resellers at the FCS Comms Provider
Fixed number portability, which is a variety of options for change options. The first, ‘do nothing’, was 09 event on 15 October in London,
considered to be a more difficult supported by detailed cost benefit dismissed. The other proposals where we are pleased to welcome
subject by many CPs, is separated analysis. The MNP process options were: Industry led initiative to Comms Dealer magazine as the
off from the mobile debate and were: Recipient led taking two implement direct routing; Ofcom media partner.
n
will be discussed in a migration, hours; donor led with two hours to
mis-selling and number portability supply the PAC and two hours to
project that is under consideration carry out the port; recipient led Ofcom appears to have
within Ofcom. In its consultation on taking one working day; and donor
‘Mobile Number Portability – review led with two hour PAC supply and
less focus on the needs
of the porting process’, Ofcom one working day. Consumers said
of CPs and new entrants
argues that the MNP process needs they preferred recipient led porting.
28 COMMS DEALER SEPTEMBER 2009 www.comms-dealer.com
28 PG FCS.indd 1 27/8/09 3:35:58 pm
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