INCA initiative seeks to standardise wholesaling

INCA has launched UK-specific initiative to standardise the process for ISPs to purchase services from altnets, particularly in regions that Openreach will not cover in the short to medium term.

The initiative exploring practical ways to lower the barriers to business between ISPs and altnets has been active for some time but is now gaining momentum with 30 active companies, says INCA.

The programme is structured around three workstreams. The first focuses on regulator matters, aiming to align with Ofcom’s Telecoms Access Review.

The second stream is commercial with members seeking to facilitate the adoption of Wholesale Standards, developing a draft framework contract designed to serve as an "off-the-shelf" agreement.

Lastly, the technical workstream is tasked with defining a unified set of message flows, data models, and APIs.

James Warner, CEO, FullFibre, said: “Lowering complexity and cost, to enable National ISPs to consume services from altnets more easily, is vital to help sustain long term infrastructure competition in the market.

“By developing common standards, we can achieve this and help the scale players to help themselves in providing the best options available to consumers.” - 

 Guy Miller, CEO at MS3, said: “It is critical that alternative networks are standardised to allow easy access for retail ISPs to provide better quality and value to homes and businesses around the country.”

Wail Sabbagh, MD, Strategic Imperatives, added: “This will help expand opportunities for full fibre providers to attract retail ISPs by simplifying and standardising wholesale access.

“By empowering Altnets and ISPs to scale more efficiently, we are fostering an agile and competitive wholesale market that benefits all parties involved.”