Regulatory Master Class

Hugh Collins is a Director with InterConnect and has 35 years experience in the telecoms sector. He has a BA (Honours) degree in Mechanical Sciences and an MA in Management Studies from Cambridge University. He has specialist skills in business and financial modelling including long range incremental cost (LRIC), spectrum licensing, strategy development, technology evaluation, market analysis, telecommunications policy, and regulatory advice. He has worked in over 50 countries in Europe, North America, Australasia, the Asia-Pacific region Latin America and Africa. His focus is on strategy development, technology evaluation, business and financial modelling, and market analysis and forecasting for existing and planned communications services, media and technologies. He has provided telecommunications policy and regulatory advice to governments and regulatory bodies including 3G licensing, spectrum management and the development of a mobile cellular policy.

Peter Walker worked with BT for 22 years, notably as Planning Director in BT International and Head of Planning for BT’s London Network before becoming Director (Technology) at Oftel in 1993 where he worked on the implementation of the EU regulatory frameworks of both 1998 and 2003 and personally contributed to the current UK Communications Act 2003. He set the frameworks for implementation of several regulatory change initiatives including Interconnect Standards, Calling Line ID, Number Portability, Carrier Preselection, Local Loop Unbundling and Wholesale Line Rental. He is now an independent consultant specialising in technology, regulation and related public policy issues.

David Souter is an independent consultant and also Visiting Professor in the Business School at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, where he co-directs the Masters Programme in Communications Management. He was formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (1995-2003) and Head of Research for the UK National Communications Union (1989-1995). David has extensive experience of policy regulation, particularly in developing countries, including consultancy, research, analysis, policy advice and the design and implementation of training programmes for regulatory personnel.

Catherine Joyce is a Senior Consultant with InterConnect working on interconnection, cost modelling and tariff strategies. She has worked in Jordan, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bosnia, Serbia, Gibraltar, Malta, Morocco, Oman and the Lebanon. Before joining InterConnect, Catherine was a Senior Consultant with Cable and Wireless, where she was responsible for interconnect cost analysis, traffic modelling and analysis.

John Pendle was Numbering Programme Manager for BT in the UK from 1996 to 2000. During this period, he led the BT team charged with implementing the UK National Code and Number Change in 2000. This included conceiving and leading the network industry team to manage the number change publicity and technical changes. Since leaving BT, John has worked as an independent consultant advising regulators and operators on numbering, number portability and carrier pre-selection issues. His work with InterConnect includes advising the governments or regulatory authorities in Poland, Lebanon, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Steve Morgan worked for BT for 32 years as a network field engineer and then in Access Network Planning, most recently as Tactical Planning Manager and Customer Network Design Manager. Steve has continued to advise clients on Network Planning and Local Access Networks since joining InterConnect and has carried out a wide variety of projects involving all aspects of the Local Loop including xDSL provision, network and customer infrastructure planning. At a regulatory level, he has also prepared Reference Unbundling Offers for a number of clients. Steve presents the Local Loop Unbundling session for the Regulatory Master Class, LLU and RIO sessions at the Interconnection Master Class and technical sessions on telecom networks and new NGNs at three of the Master Classes.