Telecommunications Regulatory Support

Regulations are often imposed when a country "de-regulates" its telecommunications industry to create an open and competitive market. Regulations seek to promote competition, protect consumer interests and ensure an acceptable quality of service is maintained.

David Smith of ABIS & Associates was the Head of the Metering & Billing group at the BABT, which created the Metering Standard designated by OFTEL as OTR003. The group developed and implemented the approval scheme requirements that Telcos were required to comply with in order to demonstrate compliance with the Standard.

The scheme has evolved over the years to become OFCOM's Metering & Billing Direction (click here) covering any Telco with a turnover exceeding 40 million GBP. ABIS has participated in the consultations leading to the present scheme.

ABIS has worked with the 3 Approvals Bodies (BABT, BSI and NQA) charged with implementing this scheme and has worked in some UK Telcos providing advice on meeting the criteria of the scheme.

Whilst at BABT David acted as the prime consultant advising OFTA,  the Hong Kong Regulator click here, on the implementation of a comparable scheme which came in to effect on 21st June 2002.

Telcos seeking to understand Ofcom's Metering and Billing Direction, the requirements of audit bodies and the means of demonstrating compliance should consider drawing on our experience in this field. ABIS provides training for Operators wishing to adopt the methodology needed to meet Regulations.

Details of the Hong Kong scheme can be found by clicking on the links below:

Quality Assurance Manual for Billing and Metering Integrity Scheme (BMIS) HKTA 3104 click here

Requirements on the Assurance, Reporting and Monitoring Procedures for the Billing and Metering Integrity Scheme (BMIS) HKTA 3105 click here