About NICC

NICC is a technical forum for the UK communications sector that develops interoperability standards for public communications networks and services in the UK. NICC is an independent organisation owned and run by its members.

NICC relies on its members and the wider UK indusrty to define its work programme and to contribute the resources to develop standards. NICC itself has neither technical staff nor contracts with consultants to undertake technical work.

Board of Directors

Current composition of the Board of Directors.

Howard Benn
Howard Benn
NICC Chairman
Andy Rawnsley
Andy Rawnsley
Gamma Telecom
Ian Lawrence
Ian Lawrence
Openreach
Justin Orde
Justin Orde
Paul Rosbotham
Paul Rosbotham
Vodafone
Ian Hindle
Ian Hindle
Virgin Media O2
Andy Cook
Andy Cook
Telent
Steve Kingdom
Steve Kingdom
Xantaro
Chris Croot
Chris Croot
KCOM
Laurent Lavallee
Laurent Lavallee
Sky
Paul Emmett
Paul Emmett
TalkTalk

Observer Members

Ofcom
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

Board meetings

The NICC Board last met on 27 October 2022.

Subsequent meetings are currently scheduled as follows:

Board Date
Board 60 26 April 2023
Board 61 13 July 2023
Board 62 12 October 2023
Board 63 30 Janaury 2024

UK Government Organisations

UK Trade Associations

International Standards Organisations

Get in touch

For more information, contact the secretary: secretary@niccstandards.org.uk

Contact
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Howard Benn
Howard Benn
NICC Chairman

Prof. Howard Benn FIET, FITP

Samsung Electronics R&D Institute, United Kingdom

Howard started his career in the fixed telecommunication sector (Plessey) back in 1982, did his degree and PhD at Bradford University, moving into radio based communications in 1989. He started working in ETSI GSM standards committees in 1993, helping create 3GPP and chairing 3GPP RAN 4 from 1998 to 2007. He has been a board member of ETSI since 2008, is currently advising the ICANN board on mobile technology, and a member of a number of advisory boards for UK universities and research programs. His current role is ‘Vice President Communications Research’ for Samsung Electronics R&D Institute in the UK, managing a team of engineers covering ETSI, 3GPP, and GSMA. Recently has become a visiting Professor at Bristol University, and an honorary Professor at Queens University Belfast. He also sits on the UK5G government advisory committee looking at the future of communications technology in the UK, and an advisor to the UK government on international free trade agreements.

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Andy Rawnsley
Andy Rawnsley
Gamma Telecom

Andy has over 30 years’ experience across the telecommunications industry having worked in AT&T, Global Crossing and Gamma. Currently Andy is Gamma’s Chief Architect with technical leadership responsibility across the business including network and system architecture, design, technology standardisation and the strategic technical direction for the business.

Andy’s tenure as an NICC Director began in 2010 and was appointed Company Secretary in 2016. Andy is an Engineering Graduate of Aston University, a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution of Engineering & Technology.

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Ian Lawrence
Ian Lawrence
Openreach

Ian has 34 years’ experience working in different aspects of telecommunications and is currently a Director in Openreach Ltd, leading a large team of desk and field engineers, responsible for the maintenance of the Openreach network and delivering complex engineering solutions to customers.

Prior to this, Ian has held various senior leadership positions which included the responsibility for driving forward BT’s Deep Fibre Technology Strategy, development & introduction of new technology, as well as the design of new innovative solutions for enabling 100% Broadband coverage.  He has also led the development and testing work for new DSL technologies, driven BT’s position in International Standards and provided the direction and prioritisation of BT’s Access Research Programme.  Ian is a Chartered Engineer with the IET, a Fellow & Chartered Manager with the CMI and a Fellow of the ITP.

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Justin Orde
Justin Orde

Justin Orde was founder and Joint Managing Director of Spitfire Network Services Limited, a London based Communications Provider between 1988 and 2018.  He has served in the UK telecommunications industry since leaving the Armed Forces.  Justin is currently seeking a new role in the telecommunications industry.

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Paul Rosbotham
Paul Rosbotham
Vodafone

Paul Rosbotham has worked in the telecoms industry for over 30 years, specialising in Technology Regulation, Radio Spectrum and Network Interconnection. He formed part of the team that pioneered number portability in the UK in the mid-1990s, and managed the pan-industry implementation of the year 2000 number changes that saw the introduction of the 020 area code for London and 07 number range for mobile services. More recently, Paul has led initiatives to streamline network interconnection in an IP era, and now manages Vodafone’s radio spectrum strategy.

Paul acts as vice chairman of NICC TSG, which agrees interconnect arrangements for UK networks, having previously chaired this group.  He holds a Master of Engineering and Master’s in Business Administration, and is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology.

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Ian Hindle
Ian Hindle
Virgin Media O2

Ian has worked in the Telecommunication Industry for 30 years, initially working in cutting edge design and manufacturing, both in the UK and overseas. Ian made a conscious change and moved from design and manufacturing to network operations. Working for Virgin Media O2, Ian works in Technical Strategy and Architecture with a focus on voice services, both on the legacy TDM switching, IP networks, and the complex transformation from TDM to All-IP.   Ian is a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution of Engineering & Technology.

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Andy Cook
Andy Cook
Telent

Andy has spent his whole working career, over 30 years, in the Telecommunications industry, initially working for Plessey and continuing through many changes to now be working for Telent Communications Services Limited.  Andy continues to be proactively involved with design and development of the System X PSTN switch and has been involved in UK standards activities since the mid 1990’s.  Andy is an Engineering Graduate of Birmingham University, a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution of Engineering & Technology.

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Steve Kingdom
Steve Kingdom
Xantaro
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Chris Croot
Chris Croot
KCOM

Chris joined KCOM in early 2020 and is currently their Head of Architecture. He has been helping KCOM with their digital transformation, closure of legacy networks and expansion of their full fibre network from their home area where they are the incumbent out into the competitive surrounding areas. Prior to KCOM he spent 17 years at BT in various roles. These have included positions focussed on the convergence of fixed and mobile networks, programmable networks through SDN and NFV, access network architecture and technology consultancy. Before BT, he worked for a business and technology consultancy, a telecommunications equipment vendor and ran his own IT and Telecoms consultancy. Chris has been active in standards attending the Broadband Forum (BBF), IETF, ATIS & NICC. He was awarded the Broadband Forum’s Leadership Award for chairing several of the work areas. He is a Director at the NICC, Subject Matter Expert for Architecture & Requirements and chair of the Access Technology Task Group.

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Laurent Lavallee
Laurent Lavallee
Sky

Laurent is currently director of comms infrastructure at Sky. He holds responsibility for all engineering and operation activities pertinent to its telecom network and video distribution across Sky Group. Prior to this, he also held leadership positions in network architecture and planning.   

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Paul Emmett
Paul Emmett
TalkTalk