Pre-Payment Testing

The Test House is ready and waiting to test pre-payment functionality on your devices!

Last week we circulated a communication to confirm that pre-payment is available for testing within the Central and South region, having received feedback that the industry is ready for testing.

Pre-payment testing can be included as part of new device submissions, or as part of the Exemption Process for those devices who have achieved Partial Assurance or are already in testing.

The scope of Partial Assurance has been agreed at the Management Panel, based on availability of critical testing infrastructure, and tests that sit within the scheme or manufacturers’ control to resolve. The testing baseline (“SMDA Assurance Baseline”), as well as a list of tolerated tests (“SMDA-246”), can both be found as Scheme Documents on the SMDA website.

For additional information about testing or to receive a quote please contact smda@nmi.nl.

Exemptions Process

With pre-payment testing now available, the Exemption Process can be used for a device that has already been awarded Partial Assurance or is currently in testing to progress towards full assurance.

In addition, devices using SMETS2 v3.1/4.2 firmware can also be submitted to the scheme for testing against the current SMETS2 v2.0 baseline. The Exemption Process can then be used to extend a device’s assurance to cover dual band functionality once the scheme’s baseline is raised to align with this.

This benefits manufacturers, as not only are they able to get devices onto the DAR earlier, and therefore fulfil commitments to their Suppliers and MAPs, they will also be able to gain assurance for dual band functionality quicker than those who have not submitted their devices at all.

To start the Exemption Process, the Testing Exemption Application Form will need to be completed and submitted to the Test House for review. This can be downloaded from the SMDA website.

Submitting your Devices

A new device has been added onto the Device Assurance Register (DAR) in November! To register your device for testing, please contact the Test House via smda@nmi.nl as soon as possible to request a quote and start the process.

Testing fees are split into three portions:

• 50% upfront when the device is submitted to the Lab
• 25% upon issuance of your Partial Assurance certificate
• 25% upon issuance of your Full Assurance certificate.

Early Mover Model Funding

Manufacturers who submitted their devices for testing at the start of the scheme are included as part of the Early Mover Model (EMM). The devices were used to pave the way to assurance and are used as Interchangeability units.

EMM devices were allocated a certain amount of funding to cover the cost of their first round of testing and their first re-test. Once the two rounds of testing (one initial test and one retest) has been completed, any further retests will need to be funded by the manufacturer.

Full Assurance Plan

The SMDA Full Assurance Plan is available on the SMDA website here. The plan shows the steps towards achieving Full Assurance and the stages at which testing fees are required.

Currently, the Scheme is at Stage 3 – Pre-payment and Credit testing for CSP Central and South regions.

Once the industry has confirmed that CSP North is being used, the Scheme can move to Stage 4 – CSP Central and South and CSP North for Pre-payment and Credit functionality.

Test House Update

The Test House (NMi) have recently undergone some personnel changes within the Test Lab, with Priyesh Patel returning to the lab after completing his final year at university. As always, resourcing levels continue to align with testing demand and the Lab will continue to provide effective service to those devices submitted for testing. If you have any questions regarding testing, please contact smda@nmi.nl.

Forthcoming Meetings

• The SMDA Management Panel 15 teleconference was held on 30^th October
• The SMDA Board was held on 4^th November and a follow up meeting was held on the 7^th November
• The SMDA Management Panel 16 meeting was held on 3^rd December
• The SMDA Board will meet on 12^th December

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information provided in this update.

Best Wishes

Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme

Dear SMDA Scheme Members,

The Scheme is ready to start testing your Pre-payment devices!

Pre-payment testing can be included as part of new device submissions, or as part of the Exemption Process for those devices who have achieved Partial Assurance or are already in testing. Please contact smda@nmi.nl for more information and to receive a quote.

While it has always been possible to test Pre-payment, we have been waiting for  confirmation from the industry that they are ready for testing and are very excited that this has now been received. This is another step forward for the Scheme and allows us to cover full functionality for the Central and South regions.

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information provided in this update.

Best Wishes

Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme

Partial Assurance Update

Since Partial Assurance was awarded on 19th July, we have had an increase in engagement with manufacturers in regards to submitting devices for testing. Additionally, we continue to work with manufacturers to help resolve any outstanding issues before Partial Assurance can be awarded. We hope to be able to share more positive news of some more assured devices very soon!

Assured devices are listed on the Device Assurance Register (DAR), which can be accessed from the members’ area of the SMDA website (www.smda-scheme.co.uk). Assurance currently covers Credit in the Central and South regions.

Tolerated Issues

Scheme Document SMDA-246 lists the issues that have been tolerated by the Management Panel. This list is not exhaustive and the Scheme continues to work with the Management Panel to determine whether any new issues found can be tolerated.

Rectification Plans

If a device is awarded Partial Assurance with tolerable issues, the manufacturer will be required to complete a Rectification Plan to show how they will actively try and resolve these issues within a certain timeframe.

Following assurance, Manufacturers will have a month to complete the plan, which will then be reviewed by the Scheme Operator (SO) for sign off. Following agreement, the plan will be reviewed every six months to ensure that sufficient progress has been made to resolve the device specific issues. Assurance can then either be extended for a further six months or withdrawn.

Submitting your Device for Testing

 To submit your device for testing, follow these steps:

1. Email the Test House (smda@nmi.nl) to request a quote for testing your device
2. Review and agree the quote and sign a contract with the Test House
3. Send your device to the Test House
4. The Test House will keep you updated on your device’s progress on a weekly basis
5. If required, address any issues which may be causing your device to fail a test
6. Ensure you meet the SMDA scheme’s exit criteria, which can be found in the Entry and Exit Criteria document on the SMDA website. This includes having your CPA, ZigBee and DLMS certificates in place, where applicable
7. Once the exit criteria is met, the SO will issue you with your certificate for the specific device being tested and will list the device on the DAR for all SMDA members to see

Testing fees are split into three portions:

• 50% upfront when the device is submitted to the Lab
• 25% upon issuance of your Partial Assurance certificate
• 25% upon issuance of your Full Assurance certificate.

Exemption Process

Full or Partial Exemption from SMDA testing may be granted if a Manufacturer makes a variation, either firmware or hardware, to a device that has already been successfully tested or is undergoing testing. It can also apply when a Manufacturer submits a new product which comprises largely of parts from other successfully tested devices.

The Test House will assess which tests are directly affected by the change and identify a suite of regression tests and provide a quote based on these.

Manufacturers looking to submit upgraded devices are advised to review the Test Exemption Guidance and submit the SMDA Testing Exemption Application Form to smda@nmi.nl to receive a quote from the Test House.

Release 2

We are currently updating our test scripts ahead of Release 2 devices being submitted. It was agreed at MP13 that a transition period will be required, where two testing baselines exist before Release 2 devices become mandatory. Manufacturers will then need to inform the Test House against which baseline they wish to gain assurance.

SMDA Membership

The Board agreed that Members with outstanding SMDA Annual Subscription Fees who have not engaged with the scheme recently will have their membership withdrawn. The Scheme will continue to follow up with those members who have outstanding fees but who have recently liaised with the scheme.

Forthcoming Meetings

• The SMDA Board met on 2^nd September. The next meeting is on 4^th November.
• The SMDA Management Panel (MP) 13 Teleconference took place on 4^th September. MP14 is scheduled for 9^th October, with the MP15 teleconference on 30^th October.
• SMDA will be presenting at the Spotlight on the SEC meeting on 12^th September and the next EUA meeting on 24^th September.

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information in this update, otherwise we will issue the next update at the end of September.

Best Wishes

Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme

Partial Assurance Achieved!

 As you may have seen from our communication on 19^th July, we are pleased to announce that devices are now being awarded SMDA assurance! This key milestone was also shared on social media and in the trade press, including making the front page of the Utility Week news website.

Assured devices are listed on the Device Assurance Register (DAR), which can be accessed from the members’ area of the SMDA website (www.smda-scheme.co.uk). Assurance currently covers Credit in the Central and South regions, however we continue to work closely with the Management Panel to understand when additional functionalities become stable and available to test under SMDA, as we keep on moving towards Full Assurance.

Submitting your Device for Testing

 To submit your device for testing, follow these steps:

1. Email the Test House (smdalab@nmi.nl) to request a quote for testing your device
2. Review and agree the quote and sign a contract with the Test House
3. Send your device to the Test House
4. The Test House will keep you updated on your device’s progress on a weekly basis
5. If required, address any issues which may be causing your device to fail a test
6. Ensure you meet the SMDA scheme’s exit criteria, which can be found in the Entry and Exit Criteria document on the SMDA website. This includes having your CPA, ZigBee and DLMS certificates in place, where applicable
7. Once the exit criteria is met, the SO will issue you with your certificate for the specific device being tested and will list the device on the DAR for all SMDA members to see

Testing Payment Structure

 In recognition of the Partial Assurance process, the testing payment mechanism has been modified. Instead of paying 50% of the test fee upfront and 50% once your SMDA certificate has been issued, manufacturers will now pay 50% upfront and 25% upon issuance of your Partial Assurance certificate, with the final 25% due upon completion of Full Assurance.

Test Exemption

Full or Partial Exemption from SMDA testing may be granted if a Manufacturer makes a variation, either firmware or hardware, to a device that has already been successfully tested or is undergoing testing. It can also apply when a Manufacturer submits a new product which comprises largely of parts from other successfully tested devices.

The Exemption Process enables targeted testing to be undertaken where a change has been made, rather than repeating the full suite of tests. The Test House will assess which tests are directly affected by the change and identify a suite of regression tests that will show whether the changes have had any unintended consequences on other areas.

Manufacturers looking to submit upgraded devices are advised to review the Test Exemption Guidance and submit the SMDA Testing Exemption Application Form to smdalab@nmi.nl to receive a quote from the Test House.

Device Forecast

 Manufacturers are requested to submit their device submission forecast to the SO by Friday 9^th August, outlining how many new and variant devices will be submitted each month.

Forthcoming Meetings

• The SMDA Management Panel will next meet on 20^th August
• The SMDA Board will next meet on 2^nd September
• The Test House continues to meet with manufacturers who have submitted devices and welcomes ongoing engagement

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information in this update, otherwise we will issue the next update at the end of July.

Best Wishes

Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme

SMDA Awards First Assurance Certificates

Dear SMDA Scheme Members,

I am extremely pleased to announce that the first devices have been awarded SMDA Assurance!

This is a real milestone for the scheme, giving industry confidence that devices with SMDA Assurance will be interoperable and interchangeable in the field. Devices that have achieved assurance are now listed on the Device Assurance Register (DAR), which can be accessed via the members’ area of the SMDA website.

Scope of assurance

While the scheme has made significant progress towards aligning devices with mandated specifications, it is recognised that some issues sit outside of the scheme’s ability to resolve; therefore, assurance is currently tailored to Credit in the Central & South Regions. Rest assured however that we are continuing to work towards issuing full assurance covering the Northern region and prepayment functionality when possible.

In our June monthly update, we explained that a few tests that fall within the Credit in Central and South scope are not passing in the way that we expect by some devices. The SMDA Management Panel has agreed to tolerate some of these based on their low level of criticality and expectation of output. Examples include where other evidence aside from the expected alert is available to show an action has been completed successfully, or where there is no impact on Supplier business processes.

A list of these tolerated tests can be found on the SMDA website, under scheme document “SMDA-246 – Tolerated Issues for Partial Assurance in Credit Mode in Central and South Regions”. Please note, this does not mean that all the devices listed on the DAR have had these tests tolerated, simply that they were deemed tolerable should they be observed on a device. Where a device has been issued assurance with known tolerable issues, a rectification plan will be developed outlining the actions to be taken, and the timeframes required, to resolve these issues.

Submitting your devices

In anticipation of assurance certificates being awarded, manufacturers have been requesting quotes from the Test House and submitting their devices for testing. We would encourage those manufacturers who are yet to contact the Test House to email smdalab@nmi.nl as soon as possible to request a quote.

The Scheme Operator will also be in touch shortly with all SMDA manufacturer members to request a forecast of when your devices will be submitted into the Test House. This will help give the Test House visibility of when additional resource is required to meet demand.

Furthermore, we would strongly advise SMDA Supplier and MAP members to engage with your manufacturers to understand their plans for submitting their devices for testing.

Thank you!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in getting us to this point, particularly those members of the SMDA Board, Management Panel and former Working Group who have helped to move this forward. We look forward to seeing more devices listed on the DAR in the near future.

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information in this update, otherwise we will issue the next update at the end of July.

Best Wishes

Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme

Following the latest Management Panel meetings, we expect to be issuing SMDA assurance certificates imminently. To secure your test slot to gain SMDA Assurance for your devices, contact the Test House today on smdalab@nmi.nl.  

Read on to find out more about what happened in SMDA during June.

Path to Partial Assurance – Progress Update

In our May update, we informed you that the testing baseline for Partial Assurance had been agreed by the Management Panel as tests that cover Credit functionality in the Central and South regions. This was a key moment for SMDA, as it enabled us to progress towards issuing SMDA certification without being hindered by issues that sat outside of the control of the scheme to resolve. This clears the way for manufacturers to submit devices into the Test House, knowing that devices being rolled out in credit mode in the Central and South regions can gain SMDA assurance for interoperability and interchangeability functionality.

Having established the baseline, a number of tests were identified whereby devices were still not completely passing, for example because an alert was being received in a different way to what was expected, even though the event related to that alert could be seen to be completed correctly. The Management Panel deemed that these could be tolerated for now, provided they did not impact Supplier business processes.

At the last Management Panel meeting (MP10), held on 19^th June, a final set of tolerable tests was agreed, with just one test outstanding to be confirmed. The Management Panel is in the process of confirming whether this one test can be tolerated. If this is the case, Partial Assurance certificates will be issued in July for those devices that meet the agreed requirements.

Device Assurance Register (DAR)

Devices that achieve Partial Assurance will be listed on the Device Assurance Register (DAR), which can be found in the Members Area of the SMDA website. The device type, firmware version and testing baseline, among others, will be listed, along with a tick box showing whether the device has passed with tolerances.

A list of all device specific tolerances will be published on the SMDA website, however we will not publish which devices these tolerances relate to. Instead, the relevant tolerances will be listed on each device’s SMDA certificate. Should a Supplier or MAP wish to know what these tolerances are for a specific device, they will be able to request to see the Manufacturer’s certificate.

Device Testing

With SMDA Assurance certificates expected to be issued imminently, we would strongly encourage device manufacturers to contact the Test House as soon as possible to secure your testing slot. Non-EMM devices have been submitted into the Test House and we are progressing testing these against our agreed baseline.

Where Suppliers and MAPs have requirements in their contracts with manufacturers for SMDA assurance, we would also request that you contact your manufacturers now and request they submit their devices for testing.

To contact the lab, please email smdalab@nmi.nl.

Subscription Fees

Invoices for annual SMDA subscription fees were issued on 24^th April. With devices expected to be granted Partial Assurance in July, access to the members area of the SMDA website will be revoked from 5^th July for those who have not paid their subscriptions. We therefore request that you pay your subscription as soon as possible before this date. If you have any questions about your invoice, or would like another copy sent to you, please contact us on smdaso@gemserv.com.

Benefits of being an SMDA member include:

• Discounted testing fees, saving manufacturers at least £5,000 per device submitted
• Access to the Device Assurance Register (DAR), where approved SMDA devices will be displayed
• Access to SMDA documentation, including test specifications and scheme procedures
• Access to test reports for manufacturers, and for Supplier members where required by Ofgem
• Ability to influence the scheme’s development through your member representatives on the Management Panel and SMDA Co Board

BEIS Review into Interoperability on Change

Following a recommendation included in a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) last year, BEIS is commissioning an Independent Review of the assurance activities being undertaken by energy suppliers to satisfy themselves that smart devices being deployed meet the “interoperability on change” test (or interchangeability in SMDA language). This test ensures that devices do not need to be replaced early as a result of Change of Supplier events. The review will also include ensuring that all device types can work with each other, and with the central systems managed by the Smart DCC.

This work has now started and the Board, SMDA SO and the Test House are actively engaging with the independent auditor regarding the technical, commercial and regulatory aspects of interchangeability. A key message is that Comms Hubs should be subject to SMDA testing, to provide independent assurance that the full end to end infrastructure supports interoperability and interchangeability. We would ask that if any members are also involved in this review, that this message is reiterated.

Recent and Forthcoming Meetings

• The SMDA Management Panel met on 19^th June
• The SMDA SO presented at the Independent Suppliers Forum on 27^th June
• The SMDA Co. Board met on 1^st July
• The Test House continues to meeting with EMM manufacturers and welcomes ongoing engagement

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information in this update, otherwise we will issue the next update at the end of July.

Best Wishes

Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme

Dear SMDA Scheme Members

This is our fifth monthly update, which provides an overview of the latest scheme news and activities. If there is anything additional you would like to see in future updates then please do let us know.

Path to Partial Assurance – Progress Update

This month we have continued to progress towards issuing partial assurance certificates, covering Credit in the Central and South regions. In our April update, we explained that while the majority of these tests were passing across all Early Mover Model (EMM) devices, a handful of tests were failing. These were grouped into common issues and device specific issues, with common issues being those that are seen across the industry and are outside of the SMDA scheme and manufacturers’ control to rectify, and device issues being specific to one or two devices.

At MP08, the baseline for partial assurance was set. This covers all tests for Credit in Central and South, minus seven tests that the Management Panel (MP) agreed could be tolerated as they were related to known industry issues.

At MP09, the MP discussed the device specific issues and whether these could be tolerated or not. Many of the issues related to alerts not being received in time or in the correct format, although it was possible to see that the action related to the alert had been completed. The general principle was taken that, where the action was completed, these issues with alerts should be tolerated; where the action was not completed, then the issue could not be tolerated.

Following MP09, the Scheme Operator (SO) and the Test House (TH) reviewed each device to see whether it could be granted partial assurance, based on the tolerances agreed. A follow up call with the MP was held on 30^th May to discuss the outcomes. There are still a few unknowns, particularly around the impact on Supplier business processes if some tests are tolerated. The MP have requested a full review of the final position of Partial Assurance before issuing certificates. This review will happen over the next two weeks, with the outcome to be discussed at MP10 on 19^th June. We hope that following this meeting, we will have a clear position on Partial Assurance and will be able to confirm whether both EMM and non-EMM devices can be awarded certification.

Submitting New Devices for Assurance Testing

If you are planning on submitting your device for SMDA testing, we would encourage you to contact the Test House as soon as possible to secure your testing slot. We have already had non-EMM devices submitted to the Test House and are progressing testing these against our agreed baseline. The increasing certainty achieved through the work on partial assurance will help devices to complete testing and gain assurance.  To contact the lab, please email smdalab@nmi.nl.

Issuing Partial Assurance Certificates

Once a device has been approved for Partial Assurance, the manufacturer will be contacted and asked to confirm the details of their device to be displayed on the Device Assurance Register (DAR) on the SMDA website. The baseline against which the device has been assured will be noted and this will include the common issues that have been tolerated across all devices. If a device has specific tolerances, a box will be checked on the DAR to show “With Tolerances”. These tolerances will be listed on the manufacturer’s SMDA Certificate. Should a Supplier or MAP wish to know what these issues are, they will be able to request to see the manufacturer’s certificate.

Membership Fees

It’s that time of year again where we ask for SMDA membership fees to be paid. Invoices were issued on 24^th April and while many have already been paid, there are still a few outstanding. Please can you ensure that your invoice has been paid by Friday 21^st June 2019.

If you have any questions about your invoice, please do not hesitate to get in touch at smdaso@gemserv.com.

BEIS Review into Interoperability on Change

Following a recommendation included in a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) last year, BEIS is commissioning an Independent Review of the assurance activities being undertaken by energy suppliers to satisfy themselves that smart devices being deployed meet the “interoperability on change” test (or interchangeability in SMDA language). This test ensures that devices do not need to be replaced early as a result of Change of Supplier events. The review will also include ensuring that all device types can work with each other, and with the central systems managed by the Smart DCC.

As many Suppliers use SMDA as the sole way of testing interchangeability, SMDA will form part of this review. The SMDA Co Board are fully supportive of this review and see it as a good opportunity to demonstrate how SMDA is supporting the industry in this area. Both the SMDA Scheme Operator and the SMDA Co Board will be cooperating with BEIS’ Independent Reviewers over the coming months.

Recent and Forthcoming Meetings

• The SMDA Board met on 7^th May
• The SMDA Management Panel met on 7^th May, with a follow up call held on 30^th May
• The SMDA SO presented at:
  • the EUA meeting on 21^st May;
  • the ENA DIG meeting on 22^nd May; and
  • the DCC SM WAN meeting on 23^rd May
• The SMDA Management Panel will next meet on 19^th June
• The SMDA Board will next meet on 1^st July
• The Test House continues to meet with EMM manufacturers and welcomes ongoing engagement

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information in this update, otherwise we will issue the next update at the end of June.

Best Wishes

Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme

Dear SMDA Scheme Members

This is our fourth monthly update, which provides an overview of the latest scheme news and activities. If there is anything additional you would like to see in future updates then please do let us know.

Path to Partial Assurance – Progress Update

In our March update, we informed you of the next steps to attaining Partial Assurance. This involved a full review and analysis session by the Scheme Operator and the Test House of the outcome of all tests completed covering Credit in the Central and South regions. The results were presented to the Management Panel at MP08 last week.

The good news is that the majority of the tests have passed across all Early Mover Model (EMM) devices. The few remaining can be split into two groups, common issues and device specific issues. At MP08, the Management Panel agreed to tolerate those common issues that are being seen across industry and are outside of the SMDA scheme’s control to rectify. This essentially gives us the baseline against which Partial Assurance can be issued.

The next step is to review the device specific issues. This will be undertaken at MP09 which is scheduled for next week. Depending on the outcome of this meeting, it is hoped that we will be in a position to issue Partial Assurance certificates and we will provide you with an update following MP09.

With this in mind, we would encourage device manufacturers to contact the Test House as soon as possible to secure your testing slot. We have already had non-EMM devices submitted to the Test House and are progressing testing these against our agreed baseline. To contact the lab, please email smdalab@nmi.nl.

Annual Membership Fee

 Earlier this month, we communicated to members that the annual membership fee will be increasing this year to £2,250. This was agreed by the SMDA Co Board to enable the scheme to update the testing infrastructure and ensure it remains aligned with industry requirements, specifically around upcoming introduction of Release 2 and Alternate ESME devices. Due diligence has been undertaken to ensure the cost of change is kept as low as possible and we fully anticipate the membership fee to reduce again next year, once this work is complete. Invoices were issued on 24th April.

Benefits of being an SMDA member include:

• Discounted testing fees, saving manufacturers at least £5,000 per device submitted
• Access to the Device Assurance Register (DAR), where approved SMDA devices will be displayed
• Access to SMDA documentation, including test specifications and scheme procedures
• Access to test reports for manufacturers, and for Supplier members where required by Ofgem
• Ability to influence the scheme’s development through your member representatives on the Management Panel and SMDA Co Board

 Recent and Forthcoming Meetings

• The SMDA Management Panel met on 25^th April (MP08)
• The SMDA Management Panel will next meet on 7^th May (MP09)
• The SMDA Co. Board will next meet on 7^th May
• The SO will be presenting at the EUA Joint Members meeting on 21^st May
• The SO will be presenting at the ENA DCC Interaction IT Group meeting on 22^nd May
• The Test House continues to meet with EMM manufacturers and welcomes ongoing engagement

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information in this update, otherwise we will issue the next update at the end of May.

Best Wishes

Louise Singleton, Head of SMDA Scheme

Dear SMDA Scheme Members

This is our third monthly update, which provides an overview of the latest scheme news and activities. If there is anything additional you would like to see in future updates then please do let us know.

Path to Partial Assurance – Progress Update

 In our February update we highlighted that whilst we were on track against the testing plan we were still encountering interchangeability issues, and that an interchangeability session with the DCC and Early Mover Model (EMM) manufacturers had been arranged for the second week of March with the aim of resolving these issues.  I am pleased to say that this session was very beneficial and that the root cause of most of the issues were identified. We have subsequently been working on completing all final interchangeability and interoperability tests that fall within the proposed initial Partial Assurance baseline (Credit functionality in the Central and Southern Regions) for all EMM devices, and continue to support manufacturers to resolve outstanding issues.

In accordance with the testing plan, this testing phase is now almost complete and a full review and analysis session (including consideration of defects and observations) will be undertaken by the Test House and Scheme Operator on 4th April. Following this review, a draft paper will be issued to the SMDA Management Panel in w/c 8th April with the outputs from this analysis and the resulting final proposals for this initial Partial Assurance.

Test House News

 We wrote out to all Members in mid-March to announce the news that the SMDA Test House, NMi, has officially rescinded its termination notice. This is good news for the scheme as we now have a stable pathway for testing. We hope that this news will provide confidence to those that have previously been uncertain about submitting their devices for testing, and would encourage those with devices not yet submitted to request a quote for device testing by contacting smdalab@nmi.nl.

 Other Activity 

• Website: Changes to the SMDA Website have now been made live. The changes aim to make information more accessible and useful to site users, and we hope you find them beneficial.  We wrote to all members earlier this month informing them that as part of this update users’ log in details had to be reset, and advising on how to change your password. If you have any difficulties accessing the website then please do let us know.
• Consultations: Following the response issued by the DCC in February to its consultation on Communications Hubs Firmware Management, SMDA provided a further response reiterating our position that the DCC should make use of the SMDA Scheme to independently verify Communications Hubs operations. This is to ensure they do not introduce interoperability or interchangeability issues, and to potentially reduce the overall cost to industry of testing. We hope to continue dialogue with the DCC on this matter.

Recent and Forthcoming Meetings

• The SMDA Co Board met on 4^th March
• An Interchangeability Session with EMM Manufacturers and the DCC was held at the TEF lab on 12^th March
• The SMDA Management Panel will next meet on 25^th April

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions on the information in this update, otherwise we will issue the next update at end April.

Best Wishes

Catherine Cousins, Interim Head of SMDA Scheme

Dear SMDA Scheme Members

In our February update we informed Members that we were in the process of refreshing the SMDA website, to improve its usability and accessibility to information.

We are pleased to say that these changes are now live.

As part of this update, log in passwords for individual users had to be reset, therefore, when you next log in you will find that your old password will no longer work. To login, please use the ‘Forgotten Password’ weblink to gain a new password, which can then be amended to something more memorable using the ‘Edit My Profile’ link under your site profile.

Please contact smdaso@gemserv.com if you have any questions or if you have any difficulties in accessing the website.

Best Wishes,

SMDA Scheme Operator