About Local Loop Unbundling/Unbundled Bitstream Access
Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) enables non-Telecom providers to access Telecom’s local loop network directly to service end customers. It will become a regulated service under the legislation passed by the Government in December 2006. It will significantly benefit not only industry players, but New Zealand consumers and businesses as well.
The industry has been working together since August 2006 to develop a coordinated approach to the operation of services over Telecom’s network to minimise the risk of interference between different services. The development of performance requirements governing network deployment and compatibility benefits all end-users, as it reduces the likelihood of interference and service incompatibility.
STD Operations Manual and SLA Change Control Working Party
Since December 2008 there has been a STD Operations Manual & SLA Change Control working party. The focus of this working party is to:
- take a proactive approach where parties in up-front informal discussion can discuss proposed changes to the UCLL, UCLL Co-location, Backhaul, Subloop and UBA Operation Manuals and Service Level Terms; and
- provide an ongoing forum for industry discussions with the Commerce Commission or the independent recommendation maker (as that term is defined in the STDs) in relation to any proposed changes to the Operations Manuals or Service Levels forming part of the STD’s.
Background
Phase One
In December 2006 the TCF issued the Phase One Report on LLU and UBA. The report set out the high level issues and options in relation to the technical and operational aspects of implementing LLU and UBA in New Zealand.
Phase Two
In March 2007, five new working parties were established:
- Local Loop Unbundling Lines Working Party
- Unbundled Bitstream Access Working Party
- Co-location Working Party
- Backhaul Working Party
- Interference Management Working Party.
The working parties output in Phase Two was aligned with the Commerce Commissions timetable on the Standard Terms Determinations for LLU Lines, Co-location, UBA and Backhaul.
The outputs from the TCF's work in Phase 2 can be found here.
Phase Three
In December 2007, the above working parties were replaced with the following:
- Sub-Loop & Sub-Loop Co-Location Working Party
- Sub-Loop Backhaul Working Party
- UCLL Services and Wholesale Cabinet-delivered DSL Services Working Party
The Sub-Loop, Sub-Loop Co-Location and Sub-Loop Backhaul Services (Sub-Loop Services) were specifically excluded from the Telecom Unbundled Copper Local Loop Network (UCLL) and UCLL Co-location Service STDs in order to be dealt with separately. In anticipation of Access Seeker demand the Telecommunications industry will work together to develop Sub-Loop Services, processes, procedures and specifications.
The Sub-Loop & Sub-Loop Co-Location, Sub-Loop Backhaul, UCLL Services and Wholesale Cabinet-delivered DSL Services working parties aim to provide:
- input into a future Telecom Standard Terms Proposal (STP), or STPs, in relation to the Sub-Loop Services; and
- input into Telecom’s service development process for Wholesale’s cabinet-based DSL services (in addition to the current regulated UBA services) and Telecom’s soon to be established Access Network Services unit’s (ANS) UCLL related services.
The outputs from the TCF's work to date in phase 3 can be found here.
These working parties have since been replaced with the STD Change Control Working Party.
Project Scope
The role of the working parties is set out in the: