The Connected Services Framework (CSF) is an industry-led standard that simplifies switching between business communications providers, ensuring the process is straightforward, consistent, secure, and compliant.
Unlike costly alternatives, CSF can be hosted directly by a communications provider (CP) or through a Managed Access Provider (MAP). It provides a common approach that reduces complexity while remaining flexible enough to meet both industry-wide and individual provider requirements.
Developed by the Technical Architecture Group (TAG)—a collaboration of leading telecom platform providers—CSF v1.0 focuses on business switching, with plans to expand into number porting, wholesale ordering, and outage notifications.
About CSF
The Connected Services Framework (CSF) is an open, industry-led initiative that standardises communication between telecom providers across the UK.
- Built by the Technical Architecture Group (TAG).
- Open framework: no license costs, available for any CP or MAP.
- Establishes shared standards for secure, direct, and efficient provider-to-provider communication.
- Designed to reduce costs and simplify compliance with regulatory obligations.
Why CSF Matters
Under Ofcom’s General Conditions (C7 – Switching), business service providers must manage switching when customers move to them. Unlike consumer switching (OTS), which is centrally coordinated, business switching has no single system—leaving over 4,500+ providers to manage processes individually.
This leads to:
- Inconsistent and fragmented approaches.
- Higher costs and complexity.
- Compliance challenges for smaller providers.
CSF solves this by providing a common, standards-based method for transmitting switching messages. This:
- Creates a level playing field across the industry.
- Ensures consistency and interoperability across providers.
- Lowers the cost of compliance.
Who is involved
The TAG group (active since April 2024) is driving CSF development. Current members include:
| CSF Member | Website | Contact | Services to multiple CPs |
|---|---|---|---|
| NowYoYo | nowyoyo.com | sales@nyy.global | Yes |
| iconectiv | iconectiv.com | bfabrykant@iconectiv.com | Yes |
| CWP | cwpuk.org | memberships@cwpuk.org | Yes |
| Zentive | zentive.com | colin.noden@zentive.com | Yes |
| ICUK | icuk.net | sales@icuk.net | Yes |
| The Communications Gateway | comgw.uk | chris@comgw.co.uk | Yes |
Future members could include MAPs offering managed GPLB services and CPs looking to automate intra-CP communications through CSF.
Overview
The CSF standard that was been created incorporates many improvements over the current transport of the OTS messages (via TOTSCo).
Key standard definitions that have been incorporated are:
- Alignment as much as possible to the OTS message transport standard to minimise any additional development for any provider already offering OTS services.
- Transport of the proposed GPLB message protocol as proposed by the Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator (OTA).
- Process for on/off boarding new providers who wish to adopt the CSF.
- Specification of the CP directory
- Secure handling of messages using transport and application level security and associated signatures.
- Message signings and CP verification using DNS
- Service resilience
- Change management process
- CP transitioning process
- Handling of inflight orders
- Operational monitoring process
- Outage notification and service levels
Please download the current CSF v1.0 standard here.
News
Join CSF
Membership Process
Any MAP or CP can join CSF by:
- Implementing the CSF standard in their systems.
- Completing sponsorship testing, where an existing member validates the new API connection and messaging.
- Sponsorship operates on a cost-recovery basis.
Governance
- New members must sign the CSF Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which defines governance and collaboration.
- The MoU is updated periodically, and members may be asked to sign new versions.
Benefits of Membership
- Access to an automated, efficient mechanism for message transport.
- Industry-wide interoperability through standard protocols.
- Participation in the ongoing evolution of CSF.
- Ability to grow faster by reducing complexity and compliance costs.
Contact
📧 Email: info@csf-uk.org
📍 Address: 7 Bell Yard, London, WC2A 2JR
📞 Phone: (+44) 020 3051 3453
Member Portal
If you are a CSF member, you can access shared documents and resources via the link below.
Connected Services Framework
Email: info@csf-uk.org
Address: 7 Bell Yard, London, WC2A 2JR
Phone: (+44) 020 3051 3453