SEC Version 101.0 came into effect today, 2 December 2024.
Today the Department is re-designating the Network Evolution Transition and Migration Approach Document (NETMAD) as version 5.0 to introduce an obligation on the Data Communications Company (DCC) to provide Enrolment Services and Communications Services in relation to 4G Communications Hubs. The purpose of this re-designation is to enable go-live of the DCC’s 4G services and the commencement of the Initial Pallet Validation (IPV) Stage today following the Department’s approval of the 4G Communications Hubs & Networks Live Service Criteria Go-Live Decision on 27 November 2024.
Alongside the NETMAD re-designation, the Department is also today re-designating the Communications Hub Installation and Maintenance Support Materials (CHIMSM) as version 6.0 to introduce:
- a new WAN Variant for the ‘4G Cellular Communications Hub’;
- a new clause specifying that where the Coverage Database identifies multiple WAN Variants in the central and south, the Supplier Party may install either a 2G/3G or a 4G Communications Hub;
- enduring arrangements that prevent the replacement of Mesh Communications Hubs that have been operating as an Active Mesh Gateway Communications Hub or an Active Mesh Hop Communications Hub in the previous six-month period with a 4G Communications Hub; and
- an enduring obligation on the DCC starting from 1 January 2025 to provide Energy Suppliers with monthly reporting setting out, for each Mesh Communications Hubs, whether it has been operating as an Active Mesh Gateway Communications Hub or an Active Mesh Hop Communications Hub in the previous six-month period.
These two re-designations follow a DCC consultation between 12 September and 11 October 2024 on changes to the NETMAD and the CHIMSM to support go-live of the DCC’s 4G services from the commencement of the IPV Stage. Having considered the responses to the consultation, the DCC concluded that no further changes were necessary to address these responses but made changes to the NETMAD and CHIMSM drafting to resolve some discrepancies identified after the consultation period. The DCC subsequently provided the Department with proposed revised drafts of the NETMAD and the CHIMSM on 14 November 2024 alongside a consultation conclusions report, both of which were published on the DCC website on the same day. Having considered the DCC submission, the Department is today re-designating the NETMAD as version 5.0 and the CHIMSM as version 6.0.
Documents relating to this Designation can be found here.