08/03/2023

For information

This briefing is for all Communications Providers (CPs).

This briefing is to inform CPs consuming the Ethernet Cablelink product that changes to the Connectivity Services Contract, Ethernet Cablelink Product Description and SIN1001 have been published in Draft.

The following documents have been updated and published in draft as part of SOR-8665 (Support for Ribbon Cable), the introduction of the new Grouped Orders support process, Standardising Splicing Schedules and the Change to the requestable internal cable size options:

• Connectivity Services Contract – Updates to Schedule 1, 2 & 4
• Product Description V7.3
• SIN1001 – V2.0
• Splicing Schedules Template V1.0

Once the 28 days’ notice has passed, the updated documents will be published, on the 11th of April.

1.      The Connectivity Services Contract (“CSC”)

The CSC has been amended to facilitate the new Grouped Order process (as presented to industry during the last few EPCG meetings).  The changes to the CSC are as follows:

• New KCI1 SLA for Grouped Orders (a longer period of time to acknowledgement Orders that form part of a Grouped Order)
• Increasing the Cable Drop Delay for all External Variant orders to 90 Working Days
• Increased Cable Drop Delay for Group orders, to be dependent on the size of the Group
• New CDD calculation logic for orders within Grouped Orders
  • Resetting the CDD at point of Cable Drop Delay closure
  • New Staggered sequencing logic for CDDs for individual based on Cable Drop confirmation emails from a CP

This document can be found here: https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/products/ethernet/contracts

2.     The Cablelink Product Description

The Product Description has been amended to take account of the following:    

• The updated External Variant order guidance, which now facilitates:
  • Requests for a CP to state, at point of order, if they will be using External Ribbon Cable; and
  • Restricting the fibre size and number of cables that can be requested based on the size of the External product.
• The updated Splicing Schedules guidance under which CPs are requested to use the new Splicing Schedule Template; and
• An explanation of the new Grouped Orders process from order entry to the CDD calculation rules.

This document can be found in the “Product description” section on the Ethernet Cablelink product page on the Openreach portal here: https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/products/exchange-based-products/ethernet-cablelink

3.     SIN1001

SIN1001 has also been updated to cover both SOR-8665 & the Splicing Schedule changes as follows:

• Updated the Branding and structure of the document.
• Inclusion of COF800 Openreach Incrementally Bonded Ribbon cable specification.
• Update to the expect CP external cable spec to highlight support for Ribbon Cable.
• Update to guidance on Splicing Schedules to include the new Splicing Schedules Template.
• Included note on Corrugated Steel Tape Cable review.

This document can be found in the “Product description” section on the Ethernet Cablelink product page on the Openreach portal here:

https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/help/suppliers-information-notes-(sins)

4.     Splicing Schedule Templates

A new set of Splicing Schedules Templates have also been published in the “Process documents” section on the Ethernet Cablelink product page on the Openreach portal here:

https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/products/exchange-based-products/ethernet-cablelink

This document includes templates for splicing schedules for all external fibre sizes we accept, 24, 48, 96, 144 and 288.  

More information

If you've any questions about this briefing please get in touch with your business development manager or customer experience manager.