1. 1 NICC Network Interfaces Coordinating Committee _ Network Interoperability Consultative Committee Professor John O’Reilly Chairman, NICC

2. 2 The Origin of NICC - 1990 Duopoly Review Conclusion 2.28 (Paragraph 7.30) : The Director General has decided that all licences should contain a condition which would enable him to specify essential network interfaces. The intention is to take a reserve power to specify that network interoperability on those designated interfaces must be available in accordance with prescribed standards. These would normally be the relevant European Telecommunications Standards or recommendations of the International Telecommunications Union. Exceptionally, in the absence or inadequacy of either of these, it might be appropriate for the Director General to determine other requirements. Operators would remain free to decide the technology used for implementing such standards. The Director General has decided that all licences should contain a condition which would enable him to specify essential network interfaces. The intention is to take a reserve power to specify that network interoperability on those designated interfaces must be available in accordance with prescribed standards. These would normally be the relevant European Telecommunications Standards or recommendations of the International Telecommunications Union. Exceptionally, in the absence or inadequacy of either of these, it might be appropriate for the Director General to determine other requirements. Operators would remain free to decide the technology used for implementing such standards.

3. 3 The Origin of NICC - 1990 Duopoly Review Conclusion 2.29 (Paragraph 7.32): The Government will help facilitate the establishment of a UK consultative forum in which operators, manufacturers, and users can address the standards and related technical issues associated with introducing more competition. The role of this forum would be to advise the Director General in relation to any essential network interfaces. Where appropriate it might also seek to influence the future development of European and international standards. The Government will help facilitate the establishment of a UK consultative forum in which operators, manufacturers, and users can address the standards and related technical issues associated with introducing more competition. The role of this forum would be to advise the Director General in relation to any essential network interfaces. Where appropriate it might also seek to influence the future development of European and international standards.

4. 4 1992 Proposed Structure

5. 5 The Early Years 1992-1994 n n Chairman - Dr. David Leakey n n “Seed” NICC members appointed by Oftel n n Interest Group structure developed n n Focus - è è CLI Presentation è è Interconnect signalling n n 1994 - Work programme review - è è aligned with Oftel programme needs è è accountability and timescales clarified

6. 6 From our first Chairman

7. 7 Some of the names! Inaugural Meeting 26 th November 1992 at Export House n Bill Wigglesworth, DG Oftel n Vivienne Peters, Heath Rees, Ron Bell, David Norton, John Leeson, John Pickin, Ian McBride, Keith Monserrat, Trevor Harvey, Rajan Chadha, Nick Pellew, Alan Jones, John Boag, Peter Kiddle, n Tony Valvona (BSI), David Leakey (BSI/TCT) n Barry Cartman (BABT) n Arthur Orbell, Mohinder Mahi (Oftel)

8. 8 1995 – Year of Change: From NICC to NICC n Objective - NICC to play a more constructive role advising on the technical aspects of the competitive services market NICC to play a more constructive role advising on the technical aspects of the competitive services market n Remit broadened - To embrace wider issues of interworking and interoperability of services in addition to original focus on network interfaces To embrace wider issues of interworking and interoperability of services in addition to original focus on network interfaces n Result - Name change - Network Interoperability Consultative Committee

9. 9 Terms of Reference n The NICC shall, for interoperability between networks, and between networks and customer equipment: èadvise the Director General on existing interfaces that need to be declared and adequately specified; èadvise the Director General on new and emerging interfaces for which a common presentation would be beneficial to users; èstimulate work by expert groups and standards committees on common presentations of these and other interfaces; èliaise with those responsible for national implementation of European Directives, Guidelines and Standards to maximise consistency between NICC and European standardisation activities. n The NICC, may, for other technical issues, advise the Director General on any other matters which it considers should be brought to his attention.

10. 10 1995 to present day n 1995 - New Chairman (John O’Reilly) n 1995 - 1st NICC Open Forum, Keynote address by DG n 1996 - Service Providers Interest Group relaunched n 1997 - NICC Users Panel formed “to draw out the views of a wide range of users, working by correspondence, on the service offerings users are looking for” “to draw out the views of a wide range of users, working by correspondence, on the service offerings users are looking for” n 1997 - Electronic working facilities introduced – now the norm 2003 – Into the Ofcom era! 2003 – Into the Ofcom era!

11. 11 Significant Achievements? n Many and varied technical achievements from a very large number of projects n The degree of commitment, substantial and sustained, from across the sector – individuals, companies and other organisations – has been crucially important n We have developed a ‘way of working’ that has served the telecommunications sector and consumers very well indeed n An excellent example of co-regulation operating in practice – and model for ‘Industry – Regulator’ partnership that I very much hope will continue into the Ofcom era!

12. 12 Thank you for your attention, for your support, for your participation in the work of NICC