Wholesale Broadband Access Services and Wholesale Local Access Services - July 2018
As part of the KCOM Group, the business in Hull has been designated by Ofcom to have Significant Market Power (SMP) and is obliged to provide Wholesale Broadband Access Services and Wholesale Local Access Services. KCOM has developed Wholesale Reference Offers for Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access. These are provided in draft form that will be subject to final development in discussion with Communication Providers (CPs) who demonstrate a reasonable demand for these services. Service Operations Manuals detailing operational processes are also being prepared and will be made available to CPs as part of final development of the services.
KCOM has also developed an Accommodation Services Agreement to support the provision of Wholesale FibreLine Local Access. This Agreement is also provided in draft form and subject to final development in discussion with Communication Providers.
KCOM is in the process of developing backhaul products to support Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access and an information note provides further details of these services. Full details will be notified in due course.
CPs should note that these services will only be provided in the Hull Area as defined in the Licence granted by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to KCOM under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984, on 30th November 1987. This is in recognition of the geographical boundary of the SMP status.
If CPs would like to make any representation on the draft Wholesale Reference Offers then please do so before 7 September by emailing Chris Dingle (chris.dingle@kcom.com) and KCOM’s regulatory team (regulatory@kcom.com).
Webinar 26 July 2018 Wholesale FibreLine Services slides
Formal applications for registration and access to the KCOM Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access should be directed to wholesalepartners@kcom.com
Update October 2018
In July 2018 we published draft Reference Offers for Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access, together with a draft Accommodation Services Agreement to support the provision of Wholesale FibreLine Local Access.
We also indicated that we were in the process of developing backhaul products to support Wholesale FibreLine Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access.
We have now considered feedback from Communications Providers and are undertaking further work to finalise the product specification, processes and contract documents which will be completed by the end of January 2019.
If you have any feedback on the proposed timescales then please contact chris.dingle@kcom.com.
Update March 2019
In light of feedback that we received from stakeholders we have been developing our two reference offers, Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access, and complementary wholesale services. This activity is taking slightly longer than planned given the level of operational activity required. We now expect this activity to be complete at the end of March. Based on engagement to date, we do not envisage that this will present any issues.
Update April 2019
KCOM are planning to launch retail and reseller variants of a Landlord Broadband Fibre solution late April/early May. Updates will be provided here and full documentation will be provided when available, but we have decided to provide advance notice of the launch so that our partner community can consider potential interest in the product.
Point to Point Optical Connectivity Product
KCOM are in the process of developing a new point to point optical connectivity product for deployment in the Hull area. An outline specification for the product will be made available here shortly, followed by commercial structures including pricing. Any queries or expressions of interest should be directed to Chris Dingle, Head of Wholesale (chris.dingle@kcom.com).
100Gb Transparent ECAS & EDAS Product
KCOM are in the process of developing a transparent 100Gb addition to the ECAS and EDAS product sets. An outline specification for the product will be made available here shortly, followed by commercial structures including pricing. Any queries or expressions of interest should be directed to Chris Dingle, Head of Wholesale (chris.dingle@kcom.com).
Update May 2019
100Gb Mobile Network Characteristics ECAS & EDAS Product
KCOM are in the process of developing a 100Gb product addition to the ECAS and EDAS product sets with specific characteristics for mobile network backhaul. An outline specification for the product will be made available here shortly, followed by commercial structures including pricing. Any queries or expressions of interest should be directed to Chris Dingle, Head of Wholesale (chris.dingle@kcom.com).
Connect Broadband ADSL Residential Services
KCOM will be launching Connect Broadband ADSL Residential Services for resellers where KCOM cannot make fibre services available in the Hull Area, effective from 10 June 2019. These services have been specifically developed to enable broadband service provision in those limited locations within the Hull Area where KCOM’s fibre services are not currently available to order either to KCOM’s retail division or resellers as a consequence of temporary exceptions. We have therefore developed a white label voice and ADSL broadband solution as a transitional solution to enable resellers to provide consumer solutions in these locations in the short term. When KCOM clears the exceptions then resellers will be able to order Fibre broadband services under the Reseller Agreement for Connect Broadband Fibre Services.
In the event that there is broader interest for us to develop, or make available , residential ADSL services on Hull-wide basis please contact us.
Update July 2019
Optical Wave Access Service
We are developing an Optical Wave Access Service. Optical Wave Access Service (OWAS) with filter is a high-speed point to point wavelength service and can consist of a core 10Gb lit and managed wavelength with the option for the Communications Provider (CP) to use additional wavelengths between sites using a CP’s own additional termination equipment. We are publishing a draft Technical CIP and Price List and expect to publish proposed amendments to the Reference Offer for Leased Line Services which incorporate this service in the near future. The service will be available from 15 October 2019.
Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access
Further to our March update on the development of our two reference offers, Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access, we have now published our pricing for these reference offers. We now expect to publish the final reference offer contract for Wholesale FibreLine Local Access shortly. Given recent prospective interest in Wholesale FibreLine Access we have held this reference offer in draft in the event of further final feedback. Based on engagement to date, we do not expect this to present any issues and in the case of Wholesale FibreLine Access will further support prospective customers.
Update August 2019
We are consulting on proposed changes to KCOM’s Reference Offer for the Provision of Leased Lines and Ethernet Services. The purpose of these changes is to introduce two new services and align the Agreement with KCOM’s other Wholesale Reference Offers.
External CableConnect
External CableConnect supports the provision of Wholesale FibreLine Local Access Services. It provides a passive connection between CP Equipment in a KCOM Exchange and a point of handover located within the curtilage of the same KCOM Exchange We have previously published pricing and technical documentation and are now publishing draft contract terms.
Optical Wave Access Service including filter
Optical Wave Access Service including filter is a high-speed point to point wavelength service and consists of a core 10Gb lit and managed wavelength with the option for Communications Providers to use additional wavelengths between sites using a CP’s own termination equipment. We have previously published draft pricing and technical documentation and are now publishing draft contract terms.
Other Changes
We have undertaken significant work on our wholesale portfolio with the introduction of a number of new services. In order to align our standard Reference Offers and ensure that we are using best industry practice we are proposing a number of other changes to KCOM’s Reference Offer for the Provision of Leased Lines and Ethernet Services. These changes are highlighted on the published document. We do not believe any of these changes are significant.
We are consulting on these amendments and welcome comments by 29 August 2019. Following the consultation period we intend to formally notify the changes with the revised Reference Offer taking effect 56 days after that notification.
Red Line Versions
Update October 2019
Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access
Further to our July update on the development of our two reference offers, Wholesale Fibre Line Local Access and Wholesale FibreLine Access, we have now published these reference offers. We published the final reference offer contract for Wholesale FibreLine Local Access in July 2019. Wholesale FibreLine Access has now also been published.
Previous strategic IT development notices
IT development: Industry workshop 9-11am on 23 January 2020, Carr Lane, Hull, HU1 3RE
- KCOM is intending to make a strategic investment in its provisioning and fault management platform to enable its wholesale customers to manage the products that we supply them with remotely. The development activities will take place in phases beginning in 2020 and each of which will be driven by customer priorities. We intend, in the first instance, to prioritise the online ordering journey to enable you to provide the best possible end customer experience.
- To help assist KCOM in the appearance and functionality of portal access and any back end developments, KCOM is holding this workshop to capture improvements that will make the most difference for our wholesale customers. The January workshop therefore provides a great opportunity for us to collate feedback on how we can optimise the ordering journey for you and to capture your requirements.
- For those unable to attend the workshop in person, we will provide a Webinar of the event. We will be happy to take written feedback from you or set up a separate call should you wish to discuss your requirements further. Please submit any specification you consider critical, or helpful to us at: regulatory@kcom.com. Similarly, if you would like to set up a meeting with us please send us an email and we will organise one with you.
- Our Chief Technology Officer Tim Shaw will be attending the Industry workshop along with colleagues from our IT development team. The event will also be attended by our Wholesale team and our Director of Regulatory Affairs.
- As we develop our new wholesale platform, it is critical to us that we do so with your business needs and priorities in mind. It is our intention to continue to engage with stakeholders as we move from design into prototype. As we build further capabilities in this space we will continue to work in an agile way with our customers. We welcome this opportunity to provide a great wholesale experience and look forward to meeting with you in January.
Please note: Any references to ‘Kingston’, ‘KCH’, ‘KCL’ or ‘KCOM Group PLC’ in this section relate to KCOM Group Limited