 TELECOM ACCESS STANDARDS NEWSLETTER NO. 96 DECEMBER 1996 CONTENTS
1. ACCESS STANDARDS HAS MOVED AGAIN!!
As announced in the "News Flash" sent out with Newsletter No. 95, our new location for visitors and courier delivery of parcels is Level 6, NZI Building, Victoria Street, Wellington. The PO BOX number remains the same, but the telephone numbers have changed, as shown above in the letterhead.
New Direct Dial-In telephone numbers for the group are as follows:
Doug Burrus (04) 498 9707
Peter Wheeler (04) 498 9708
Richard Brent (04) 498 9709
Janine Jackson (04) 498 9713
I confirm that our fax number remains the same at (04) 473 5927, as shown on the letterhead.
In Newsletter No. 95 under "Numbers displayed", I explained that the numbers seen by the called party are not always what might be expected. My explanation of the numbers presented was incorrect or misleading as regards some points. For example, I mentioned that ISDN customers have the opportunity to provide "extension numbers" if their PABX has been set up to do so. I should explain that by "extension number", I meant the full 7-digit DDI extension number, not the short extension number used for calls within the PABX.
Where the ISDN DDI extension customer forwards a "User Provided number" to the network, this is provided in the standard 7-digit local number format. This number is verified by the network at the ISDN interface and passed forward as "User Provided, Network Verified". The number actually passed forward to
the called party by the network is preceded by the area code. As such, it appears on the called party's display in exactly the same format as other Telecom PSTN numbers.
If the ISDN customer has not forwarded a "User Provided number" to the network, the number displayed will correspond either with the pilot number of the group (for Primary Rate and Basic Rate group hunting
A similar situation arises with PABX's other than ISDN types. I stated that the number displayed corresponds with the trunk selected. This is not correct. The number displayed corresponds with the pilot number of the trunk group. The pilot number is commonly, but not necessarily the listed directory number.
For DDI PABX's, the pilot number may be any one of the DDI extension numbers and possibly one not actually allocated within the PABX. This means that people dialling the displayed calling number are very unlikely to directly reach the person who called them earlier. In the uncommon case of an unallocated DDI number, the call will fail after being delivered to the PABX.
While this information does not impact on the main issues of Caller Display dealt with in Newsletter No. 95, I have provided the above explanation to avoid any confusion.
The "Dialling back problems" explained in Newsletter No. 95 have led to a review of the PTC 200 requirements relating to Caller Display CPE. An amendment to cover the problems outlined in the Newsletter is now proposed. While the actual wording and conditions are yet to be finalised, the main points of this amendment are as follows:-
Other than for calls between Centrex extensions, dialling the displayed number exactly as it is passed from the network (without the "0" prefix) is certain to result in the wrong number.
Users can readily insert the "0" prefix or omit the area code for local numbers when dialling numbers back manually. However, the user instructions need to make this requirement clear.
Some Caller Display devices incorporate a "Dial" button (which is intended to enable the user to dial the displayed number with one key press). In the following, I refer to this as a "Dial Back" feature to differentiate it from any other dialling functions.
To avoid wrong numbers, this "Dial Back" feature can be arranged to automatically insert the "0" prefix, as and when necessary. In brief, such automatic "zero insertion" needs to take the following points into account:-
Note the conflict between requirements 1. and 5. should the Dial Back feature be used by non-code access customers. There is NO simple solution to this conflict.
It is important that the possibility of a toll charge for "local calls" routed via a by-pass operator is made clear to the customers concerned. If this is not done, the display CPE supplier could be subject to a claim for compensation under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
Separate "adjunct" display units with "Dial Back" features introduce further technical difficulties, especially where their use involves "handover" between the display unit dialler and the associated telephone or fax machine, or where both devices have to be on-line together. Telecom is currently investigating these problems.
To avoid wrong numbers, any display units providing a "Dial Back" feature should be programmable to insert the "0" prefix, as and when necessary.
User instructions should:
Warn any customers with non-code access to other toll by-pass networks that dialling "0" plus area code for local calls may incur call charges, and
Recommend that the "Dial back" feature should not be used by such customers.
The Telepermit system is not generally applied to commercial wiring and cabling. PTC 105, the Telecom "Code of Practice for Customer Premises Telecommunications Cabling" was published in 1988 with the intention of giving commercial customers the maximum degree of flexibility to meet their varying and sometimes complex needs.
Business customers may choose to use the Telecom standard jackpoint wiring system and pay for Telecom's wiring maintenance service, or use "Systimax" and Telecom's commercial services. They are also free to use other structured or generic cabling systems and have maintenance carried out by non-Telecom contractors.
Wakefield Laboratories Ltd have advised that they moved from Auckland city to Albany in January.
Phone: + 64 9 415 3355
So far, Telecom has been advised of no countries intending to extend their numbering to the full 15 digits permitted after Time T. However, some changes have been notified. Finland is expected to go to 13 digits early in 1997 and then to 14 digits later that year. Similarly, Germany is expected to head towards 13 or 14 digits during 1997.
It is unlikely that numbers from these countries will be available for presentation under our Caller Display service in the near future, but some calling equipment may need checking out to see if it will support these extended international numbers, especially where they need to be preceded by access codes.
To assist CPE suppliers with their preparation for product labelling and marketing, we have an arrangement whereby the Telepermit number can be allocated in advance of the formal grant of the permit. This allocation is provisional and becomes invalid if the supplier decides to cancel or defer a product launch or does not actually meet Telepermit requirements.
There is a charge of $100 for reservations in addition to the Telepermit processing fee for the particular class of product. Both fees are payable with the application for a Telepermit reservation.
In some cases, clients ask test laboratories to seek reservations on their behalf. This is acceptable to Access Standards, but all parties are reminded that a Telepermit application is essentially a contract between the applicant and Telecom. As such, ALL applications must be signed by the person who is to accept the responsibilities of the Telepermit holder. This undertaking obviously cannot be given by the test laboratory staff.
This year has been very close to last year in terms of the number of Telepermit applications. At this late stage in the year, we have received 451 applications. These have resulted in a total of 625 Telepermits and 34 Limited Permits being granted so far during the 1996 year. This just beats last year's 606 total for the full year. In addition, we have handled many "variations" to existing Telepermits, which we do not count in the annual totals.
Access Standards will be on limited staffing over the Christmas/New Year period. The whole office will be shut down from early afternoon of 22 December until 2 January. Janine and Richard ware expected to be available to deal with general enquiries from 2 January and the full team will be here from 8 January. Voice mail, correspondence and fax messages left during the break will be attended to on our return.
Peter Wheeler, Richard Brent and Janine Jackson join with me in wishing our readers and customers a happy and successful Christmas/New Year break. We look forward to hearing from you all again next year. We hope you have found these Newsletters useful and that they are keeping you in touch with Telecom's network changes. If not, write in and let us know.
DOUG BURRUS
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