1. Implementation Group meeting - 04/07/03 Guidelines for the interconnection of PECNs Frank Phillips (Oftel)

2. What are the Guidelines? The Guidelines offer an analysis of the Access and Interconnection Directive (2002/19/EC) in order to clarify which Communications Providers attract interconnection rights and obligations

3. Interconnection under the AID Interconnection is a specific type of Access it involves the physical or logical linking of one Public Electronic Communications Network (PECN) with another

4. What is a PECN? a PECN has three necessary elements: –there must be an Electronic Communications Network (ECN) –the ECN must be used wholly or mainly to provide Electronic Communications Services (ECS) –the ECS must be available to members of the public

5. What is an ECN? a transmission system for the conveyance of signals (plus apparatus comprised in the system / switching and routing apparatus / software and stored data) main decision that the transmission capability required to implement interconnection establishes ECN status

6. What is an ECS (i)? the principal feature of an ECS is the conveyance of signals by means of an ECN (but not a content service) information society services that do not consist wholly or mainly in the conveyance of signals are not ECS (Framework Directive)

7. What is an ECS (ii) ? Guidelines offer three layers of ECS: –basic network services –advanced services (supported by an associated facility) –enhanced services (supported by an associated facility - additionally, involve interaction, manipulation or storage of content)

8. Public availability the Bill term is “available to members of the public” (not the same as “man in the street”) there must be, in theory, no upper limit to the class of potential customers (excluding network or geographic limitations) users must not be required to pre-qualify (eg access to phone systems by hotel guests) services largely provided to members of provider’s own Group not genuinely available to members of the public

9. Replacing the Annex ll list the greatest level of consensus in the consultation was the universal desire for a register of providers that Oftel/Ofcom consider to be PECNs need to emphasise that such a register has no statutory underpinning, so will be voluntary offers presumption of PECN status