New migration code of practice imminent in March 2008

The monthly update from the Office of the Telecoms Adjudicator is a great deal more than just an update on the quantity of unbundled lines in the UK, which by the way sits at 4,086,000 at the end of February 2008.

This update includes facets on what the Migrations Programme Board has been doing, with the key points being:

* All LLU communications providers are using the EMP platform, which means they have a common set of functionality. One upshot of this is the increase in providers offering new line installations.

* Cease orders are happening faster, they used to have a lead time of 10 days, this is down to three days. The result is that an incoming tenant/owner of a property is less likely to get the tag on line problems.

* Simultaneous provides which combine the provision of a phone service and broadband such that they should happen on the same day should in theory work better now. The industry is now expected to make greater use of these, and if experience is anything to go by sales/support staff need to be trained to deal with this area.

* Flexi-Cease is a development being worked on that should see cease lead times reduced to ‘zero’, and after delays is expected in July 2008.

* A new migrations code of practice has been developed and is to be launched in March 2008. The new code is expected to be a definitive guide for all migrations and home mover processes.