Big issues for 2012 Jacqui Brookes F
CS is optimistic about growth of the reseller channel as new IP- based services become
available from distributors, but undoubtedly there will be market consolidation with the strongest surviving. BT Openreach, with Government endorsement, is rolling out fibre as rapidly as possible with predictions that there will be fibre-based services to most premises in five-six years. This begs the question as to how much support for copper will be provided for services such as WLR.
As the speakers at Comms Vision last November explained this is a year of transition, so grasp all
Will 2012 be remembered as Olympics year, recession year or boom year for the reseller channel? Asks FCS CEO Jacqui Brookes.
the help you can from the distributors. Nevertheless, resellers are independent businesses within a regulated environment and FCS is there to support and explain just how the regulator expects you to behave and we will be rolling out additional services for you in the year to come.
There is an aggressive Digital Agenda from Europe to build the e-commerce community and this is your strength, particularly in the end user SME sector. FCS is cautious that regulatory change can favour the larger companies with loud voices and that is why we argue the reseller case. In 2012 we are expecting a raft of changes
and decisions which were rolled over from 2011. These include an Ofcom policy on changes to non-geographic numbers. When will free calls to 0800 numbers from all types of phone be put in place? Resellers need to ask suppliers about the impact of changes in interconnection rates. And what about billing companies? What internal changes will be necessary and at what cost?
A consultation on customer switching processes from Ofcom is overdue and will tackle the diametrically opposing views of two major lobby groups – the gaining provider led process camp that comprises many smaller
and growing players who expect to win customers, and the losing provider led larger companies. Whatever Ofcom’s policy decision the outcome will have an impact on resellers as new processes for fixed line switching come into force. And what about number portability? Resellers, VoIP providers and many in the channel are increasingly frustrated by the lack of improvement in the processes. Our sector is bound to put this higher up the agenda.
Finally, the big one, the delayed auction of spectrum at 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz intended for use by 4G mobile. This is now planned
for the autumn. Government and regulator are frustrated by litigious delays by the incumbent operators and have offered veiled threats of new legislation. 4G spectrum will probably be used for LTE as it has been in the rest of Europe. While spectrum is a limited resource, Ofcom is planning to auction four licences, which may end up in the hands of the existing four 3G operators. Meanwhile, the Coalition Government is planning to set out how it plans to change the legislation governing the industry. A Green paper is due soon, setting out a new Communications Act which will come into law and may impact you in 2015.
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www.comms-dealer.com COMMS DEALER JANUARY 2012 29
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