01/12/04 - 001

Introduction

Kingston Communications (KC) provides a cost effective wholesale un-metered flat-rate Internet access service (FRIA) for Internet Service Providers (ISP) or other service providers (SP), enabling the delivery of competitive internet services between the platform and the service specific equipment in customer premises over single PSTN lines. The network is capable of delivering internet services to the End User (EU) at data rates up to 56kb/s over analogue PSTN lines and up to 64kb/s over basic rate ISDN connections.

This document sets out the scope and detail of the network access service, currently provided by KC. This service will only be delivered on a KC provided single analogue PSTN line or basic rate ISDN connection.

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Service Description

The wholesale HullPort24 offers a flat-rate un-metered dial-in access service in the Kingston upon Hull licensed area. Dial-up access is provided between the end user (EU) and a host connection where ISP/SP access is provided.

The service demarcation points are defined below:

It should be noted that no direct access to the internet is provided. Internet access for the EU is the responsibility of the ISP/SP. KC can provide an internet access connection but this is a separate chargeable service.

In order to initiate a session, the EU dials a preconfigured number and the call is terminated by the KCH Network. The KCH proxy RADIUS server determines the call destination and passes control to the appropriate ISP/SP RADIUS server. The ISP/SP RADIUS server authenticates the EU request and sends an "Access-Accept" or "Access-Reject" packet to the KCH proxy RADIUS as required. If authentication is unsuccessful, the EU call is terminated.

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Interfaces

Service Provider Interface

The interface provided to the ISP/SP is a LAN presentation of IP over Ethernet via a 100BaseT interface or a 34M presentation via a G.703 interface. It is the responsibility of the ISP/SP to provide connectivity from their premises to this interface and to connect to the interface. The physical connection to the service via 100BaseT as defined in the KC Customer Interface Publication CIP 016 or via 34M as defined in the KC Customer Interface Publication CIP 008. The specifications can be downloaded from the following URL http://www.kcom.com/aboutus/regulatoryinformation/access_information.asp

The 100BaseT interface presentation is in accordance with the following standards:

End User Access Interface

The physical EU connection to the service is via a single analogue PSTN line with electrical characteristics as defined in the KC Customer Interface Publication CIP 001 or via a basic rate ISDN connection with characteristics as defined in KC Customer Interface Publication CIP005. The specifications can be downloaded from the following URL http://www.kcom.com/reg-cip.html .

The analogue modem access presentation is in accordance with the following ITU-T documents :

• V.32 9.6 kbit/s
• V.32bis 14.4 kbit/s
• V.34 33.6 kbit/s
• V.42 Error correction
• V.42bis Data compression
• V.90 56 kbit/s downstream , 33.6 kbit/s upstream

V.92 (56 kbit/s down , 48 kbit/s upstream , quickconnect facility) is not currently supported but may be in the near future.

The maximum modem upstream and downstream data speeds achieved in practice may be less than those specified in the ITU-T documents depending on the distance of the EU from the exchange and other line conditions.

Basic Rate ISDN access (ISDN2) is provided at 64 kbit/s.

Connection to the EU access interface is the responsibility of the SP.

IP Service Features

IP delivery

IP will be delivered to the ISP/SP access interface in accordance with relevant standards. Static routing only is provided to destination IP addresses supplied by the SP.

Resilience can be provided over multiple interfaces (that terminate on the same LAN) to the service provider using HSRP (IETF document RFC 2281)

Delivery of customer traffic is based on an average port throughput of 20 kbit/s.

RADIUS

RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service) information is presented to the ISP/SP via the LAN ISP/SP access interface. RADIUS attribute support is in accordance with IETF documents RFC 2865, RFC 2866 (formerley RFC 2138 & 2139). The ISP/SP RADIUS servers must comply with these standards in order to successfully interconnect.

The ISP/SP must provide details of RADIUS host IP addresses (and back-up where applicable), Authentication and Accounting server UDP ports and shared secrets.

It is recommended that the ISP/SP has a back-up RADIUS server so that forwarded access request packets are dealt with. Failure to do so will mean that calls associated with incoming EU authentication requests will be disconnected in the event of a lack of response by the primary server. The number of retries (default : 3) and time between retries (default : 5s) is configurable. If a back-up server is successfully accessed then this will be used for future requests for a configurable period.

The access-request packet attributes that will be forwarded to the ISP/SP are:

and the access-accept response must include the following attributes

All other attributes will be ignored.

Refer to IETF document RFC 2865 for a more detailed description of the attributes.

ISP/SP requiring specific attribute configuration, or intending to use non-standard RADIUS attributes, must discuss these requirements with KC prior to service connection in order to avoid the potential for unexpected operation or service denial.

RADIUS accounting is optional. Prices for provision can be provided on request.

IP Addresses

IP addresses can be assigned for the duration of the call from a pool of addresses (RFC1466/RIPE) supplied by the SP from their RADIUS servers. IP address requirements should be discussed with KC prior to service connection.

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End User Terminal Equipment

The market for EU terminal equipment suitable for successful interworking with the service is large and mature. A wide variety of EU terminal equipment is available from standard commercial outlets.

KC are not responsible for the provision or operation of any end user equipment, PC operating systems, drivers or any associated software.

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Port Capacity

The number of SP interface ports and the capacity of any ISP/SP connection to the interface ports determines the number of concurrent connections that can be supported by an ISP/SP.

The ISP/SP is responsible for ensuring that they have subscribed to sufficient capacity in order to serve their subscribers to the maximum determined contention ratio of 10:1. KC is not liable for any service limitations due to insufficient subscribed capacity and reserves the right to terminate a contract where the ISP/SP refuses to increase the capacity appropriately.

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Dial access code

The dial access code prefix for the service is 08440 4. Kingston Communications have the allocated number range of 08440 464. Prefixes such as 0845, 0800 and 0808 will not be supported.

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Idle Timeout / Session Length

The EU will be disconnected if a connection is idle for 20 minutes or more or is active for 7 hours or more. These maximum limits are subject to change via OFTEL notification. Kingston will consider SP needs for shorter time periods at the time of initial port order.

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CLI

When an EU establishes a dial-up session, Calling Line Identification (CLI) information will be passed to the ISP/SP RADIUS server. CLI information must only be used for authentication, billing and internal marketing purposes by the contracted ISP/SP.

If the ISP/SP chooses to restrict the un-metered service to one CLI per EU telephone number then this must be clearly stated in the EU terms and conditions.

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End user billing

The ISP/SP is responsible for all aspects of EU billing.

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Customer Base

The initial target customer base is intended to be dial-up ISPs in the residential internet sector. The access system offers competitive services to ISP/SPs wishing to provide flat-rate un-metered internet access services to residential telephony customers.

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Availability

The service will be available within the area as defined in Annex B of the PTO licence granted to KCH by the secretary of state on the 30^th November 1987 and amended by SI 2455 1999.

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ariffs and Service charges

Tariffs to SPs will be subject to review. The tariff set is provided at Schedule 1 against specific illustrative numbers of End Users.

The service and tariff set have been developed to provide a platform for competing ISP/SPs to deploy new services. KC will be happy to talk to ISP/SPs about their specific service requirements.

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Interconnection Arrangements

Interconnect with other networks is not part of this service.

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Glossary

This Glossary includes terms used in Schedules to this document.

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Schedule 1 Kingston Communications HullPort 24 Service Description

Overview

This product is a wholesale un-metered Flat Rate Internet Access (FRIA) product which enables customers (third-party ISP/SP) to offer 24/7 un-metered dial-up services. Port charges cover call origination, and IP termination within Kingston's licensed area. The SP is required to order a quantity of HullPort 24 in the specified multiples. HullPort 24 only supports traffic on the 084404 range.

End User Subscription Charges

There are no KC end user subscription charges, these are determined by the ISP/SP.

End User Call Charges

There are no end user call origination charges. All PSTN costs are covered in the port price below.

End User Billing

All end user billing will be done by the ISP/SP.

Port Charges

The SP will rent ports at the prices shown below, which will enable them to set their own contention rates based on anticipated subscriber uptake. Ports must be ordered in multiples of the applicable minimum order quantity.

These port prices include the appropriate hostlink within Kingston's licensed area, calculated according to the number of ports ordered (minimum 10MB). The SP will be required to provide an appropriate hostlink outside Kingston's licensed area.

* The maximum contention per port is 10:1. 1200 ports assumes a minimum of 5% take-up via ISDN lines. An ISP will be charged for 1200 ports for every 1150 analogue connections, and pro-rata for lower port orders. Payment terms are quarterly in advance. Prices exclude VAT.

Additional Dial-In Numbers

Customers will be entitled to the quantity of free dial-in numbers shown above. Additional numbers above and beyond this quantity will be subject to the following additional charges.

Additional Conditions

The contract term is 2 years beginning on the operational service date.

Payment terms are rental quarterly in advance.

Charging will commence on the operational service date. This occurs on the date when the service is first made available to the customer. The customer must pay these charges, whether or not the service is used. For the avoidance of doubt, any delay in using the service, other than for reasons for which KC is responsible, shall not excuse the customer from its obligation to pay.

Port prices are fixed for the specified contract term of 2 years, however they may be subject to review and change. KC will provide notice before any such change takes effect and this is subject to OFTEL approval.

The minimum contract is for 500 ports with a subsequent 100 port call-off.

The contract term for additional port quantities will commence on the operational service date of the additional ports. Timescales for the delivery of increased volumes of ports will be provided on application.

Customers terminating the service before the expiration of a 2 year contract, must pay to KC all outstanding charges for the first year (if any) together with 35% of the outstanding charges from the second year, in a single payment, that would have been received if they had completed the period of the contract.

HullPort 24 will only accept traffic originating from a KC line, on a Flat Rate Internet Access number (08440 464 range).

Customers will be entitled to one free dial in number. Additional numbers beyond these quantities will be charged at the rates shown in the Table above.

The lead time for service delivery is 90 working days from KC acceptance of the contract, subject to satisfactory survey. Charging will commence on the operational service date.

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