GPLB and business switching glossary

Plain-English definitions of the terms used across UK business switching.

  • CP — Communications Provider. A company supplying communications services to end customers in the UK.
  • CSF — Connected Services Framework. An open, decentralised peer-to-peer framework for exchanging switching messages between Managed Access Providers, built on TLS 1.3, OAuth 2.0 and DKIM/PKI.
  • Dual running. Maintaining legacy and new services in parallel during a phased business migration.
  • FCS — Federation of Communication Services. Industry association providing GPLB guidance and coordination for UK CPs.
  • GC C7 — General Condition C7. The Ofcom condition governing switching and number porting obligations.
  • GPLB — Gaining Provider-Led Business switching. The UK process where the gaining provider leads a business customer's switch.
  • JAM — JSON Asynchronous Messaging. The industry message specification used for switching payloads.
  • MAP — Managed Access Provider. An intermediary connecting a CP to the switching ecosystem and handling message exchange, orchestration and compliance.
  • Non-switchable assets. Business services that must not move as part of a switch — typically IP addressing, leased lines, alarm circuits and CCTV.
  • OSS/BSS. A CP's provisioning, inventory, order management and billing estate.
  • OTA2 — Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator. Publishes implementation and best-practice guidance for switching and porting.
  • OTS — One Touch Switching. The residential switching process, which runs alongside GPLB.
  • RCPID. The provider identifier used to participate in business switching.
  • RoaR. NowYoYo's business switching platform.
  • SfB / SforB — Switching for Business. GPLB compliance and Managed Access Provider services for UK Communications Providers, operated by NowYoYo Limited.
  • SOR — Switch Order Reference. The identifier for a switching transaction; in GPLB it can remain active for up to 180 days.
  • Switchable assets. Business services that can move as part of a switch.
  • TOTSCo — The One Touch Switching Company. Operator of the centralised UK industry hub for switching message exchange.

What is GPLB? | What is a Managed Access Provider? | Ofcom General Condition C7

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