Workshop on Multimedia Convergence ITU-T Geneva, 12 March 2002

1. Workshop on Multimedia ConvergenceITU-T Geneva, 12 March 2002 ETSI’s Approach to IPCablecom Standardization Jim Price, C.Eng, M.I.E.E. Chairman, ETSI OCG ad hoc group on IPCablecom

2. Introduction • The example of standardisation of IPCablecom in ETSI • Basic aims of ETSI in standardisation • What is IPCablecom? • IPCablecom for Europe • The Issues, Opportunities and Challenges • ETSI’s approach to IPCablecom standardisation • The future of Euro-IPCablecom standardisation

3. Firstly, ETSI’s basic aims: • a coherent set of standards • a single standard in any area • If this is not achievable: • open to standards on competing solutions, • no conflicting standards allowed • standards not to be excluded for market reasons • Also, ETSI shall ensure: • interoperability and/or • inter-working between its standards

4. And the pragmatic view…. • workable solutions are fortoday • perfect solutions are for tomorrow • write good standards for the marketplace • not to gather dust on the bookshelf! • strive for systems interoperability • strive to improve standards, • must not slow down the implementation • consider the significance of ONP • use the expertise of any and all the ETSI TBs whenand where required!

5. Some food for thought …. • the user does not care about technology, he or she wants a good, cost-effective service! • interoperability - a key issue in telecommunications • standards have to ensure interoperability between all typesof telecommunications networks • should the same performance requirements apply to all types of network? • does the EC ONP Directive extend to IPCablecom? • should it? • what about Lawful Interception and Security issues?

6. What is IPCablecom? (1) • Simply another enabling technology • Using the Cable TV infrastructure • for faster and cheaper Internet access • for direct competition with PSTN, ISDN • for leased lines • for entertainment • for multimedia services of the future • for business and residential customers

7. What is IPCablecom? (2) • so much bandwidth, can be used for "anything" • almost independent from classical network operator • fosters competition and gives users more choice • creates new opportunities for suppliers and operators • complements policy laid down in Local Loop Directive • provides a real alternative to local loop unbundling

8. IPCablecom for Europe …. • ETSI is the recognised telecomms standards body for Europe • ETSI’s targets are - • to make IPCablecom fit in Europe • to make IPCablecom fit for Europe • to allow seamless interoperability with existing networks • international and regional standardization of IPCablecom • co-operation with SCTE and CableLabs • each region has specific requirements

9. IPCablecom for Europe …. …. Recognising the issues • European Cable Operators needed European IPCablecom standards • Existing standards lacked features and services demanded by the European market • ECCA produced an IPCablecom Requirements Document to ‘Europeanise’ the existing standards • ECCA considered generation of its own standards but is not a recognised standards producing body • Sought co-operation of ETSI which produced a Technical Report on Cable Industry requirements in Europe

10. IPCablecom for Europe…. .... Recognising the opportunities • European Cable TV Operators need to be able to compete with incumbent telecomms operators • ETSI acknowledged European Cable TV Operator requirements • Differing regulatory and operational scenarios in Europe • Differing signalling types, regulatory regimes and service offerings • Many cable operators already have existing telecomms operations • Decisions were made to • Build on International work but not be afraid to challenge it • Utilise the expertise of multiple ETSI Technical Bodies

11. IPCablecom for Europe …. .... The Challenges • Cable Operators have begun to recognize importance of being involved • A challenge for cable operators where decisions depend on consensus and where they are in minority • Incumbent and Cable Operators, competitors with comparable technical needs, have demonstrated the will to work together • IPCablecom standards were a high priority in ETSI • But so were lots of other things! • Time to market was of crucial importance • Good standards take time to produce • Base standards and local requirements needed to be mature • Expertise of multiple ETSI Technical Bodies has been harnessed • ETSI is now in the forefront of developing IPCablecom standards

12. IPCablecom for Europe…. ….ETSI’s approach • Operations Co-ordination Group established early in 2001 to oversee the work • ETSI Technical Report TR 101 963 defined European Industry Requirements, particularly operators’ needs • A multi-part document structure was devised to ensure consistency in the deliverables • A two stage process was established to translate the existing specifications • Several ETSI Technical Bodies working harmoniously together • The first stage work on the majority of the parts has been completed and published • Further work is well advanced to incorporate the ECCA requirements (second stage)

13. IPCablecom for Europe….….future Work in ETSI • As new parts of the international standards emerge, ETSI is well placed to translate them to match the European market needs • ETSI will to develop further parts of the work to cover European specific services and regulatory requirements • ETSI IPCablecom specifications for future multimedia services will be developed ahead of the US market • Together with appropriate liaison with ITU-T this will enable European equipment vendors to succeed in the US market • European operators will be able to offer world-beating, voice and multi-media services to their customers

14. Conclusions • IPCablecom offers competition • IPCablecom offers customers freedom of choice • some regulatory questions still to be answered • IPCablecom standards work alongside traditional telecommunications standards • standardization is ‘business as usual’ at ETSI • ETSI welcomes IPCablecomas a new telecommunications infrastructure for Europe

15. ETSI's experience has clearly proven that .…