VoIP - Australian Regulatory Practice and Directions Duncan MacAuslan Task Coordinator - VoIP ITP Training September 2006

Current telephony regulation broad social and economic outcomes: – encourage competitiveness – long term interests of end users – national interest focus on voice overarching requirements: – access to emergency services – protection of confidentiality of consumer communications – interception and assistance to law enforcement agencies

Development of VoIP policy Review part of 2004 Government policy first of other NGN services required top-down and bottom-up review of policy & regulation Concept of the ‘standard telephone service’ a central issue Final report published 22 November 2005 after Government acceptance. 30 recommendations

Tools for regulation Industry codes of practice Developed by ACIF, and registered by ACMA Standards and Determinations Imposed by ACMA Licence conditions Imposed by legislation or ACMA

What is different about VoIP? analogue circuit central generally fixed network digital packet edge possibly nomadic mains Signal: Switching: Intelligence: Location: Power:

VoIP service components ISP’s Internet PSTN VSP’s network Local loop: ADSL or Cable or Wireless Could be: PC, traditional phone (ATA), VoIP handset, game box etc.

Issues to be addressed Numbering plan Nomadicity Portability Emergency services Customer service guarantee Law enforcement Long term changes

Numbering Use of local service numbers by the corporate sector Allocations between CSPs Definitions in the Numbering Plan – geographic numbers 02, 03, 07, 08 – mobile 04xx – emerging services range 0550 Untimed call obligations Costs of interconnect

Nomadicity VoIP users can connect from anywhere Users address on IPND no longer useful identify people not places issues for – emergency services – location based services (taxi, fast food delivery) – law enforcement

Customer Service Guarantee Supplier definition Use of links provided by others raises issues Responsibility not self-evident to suppliers Local access providers may be unaware of suppliers

Emergency calls Location – IPND flagging – New number range – Overseas developments - ECRIT Emergency calls from overseas – Call handling at the gateways Power – Advice to customers – Power back-up options

Jurisdiction Call set-up systems for Australian services located overseas Coordination with overseas regulators for any enforcement activities – Concerns shared Overseas VoIP services with systems in Australian reversing the issue

Law Enforcement Call tracing Call interception Nomadicity IP only calls Encryption

Long term issues ‘on net’ calls NGNs interconnection of IP networks direct IP to emergency calls multi-media calls updated converged legislation no PSTN?

Questions?