T2S Release 6.2 - Information on the production launch in November 2022 - Update III
Note: This announcement, originally published on 28 July 2022 and updated on 26 August 2022 and 14 October 2022, has been further updated because the implementation of the T2-T2S Consolidation project was postponed to March 20231. Changes have been highlighted.
Clearstream Banking AG, Frankfurt2 informs customers about the upcoming TARGET2-Securities (T2S) release 6.2 in November 2022. According to the T2S Release Concept, the release will be deployed on
the weekend 19 and 20 November 2022
for business day, Monday, 21 November 2022
T2S Release 6.2 – Scope
Based on the status reporting provided by T2S, with the T2S Release 6.2, eight Change Requests (CRs) will be introduced in production. In addition, the resolution for various T2S Problem Tickets (PBIs) will be delivered. In the event of urgency and if priority is given, further functional updates might be authorised by the Operational Managers Group (OMG). If such changes are announced by T2S, CBF will inform customers in due time.
With this Announcement, CBF informs customers that further PBIs have been added as scope elements for T2S Release 6.2 and indicates if the modification might have an impact on CBF customers acting in ICP and / or DCP mode:
Overview T2S Change Requests
In connection with the replanning of the deployment of the T2-T2S Consolidation project, the scope of services was adjusted. Only eight Change Requests (CRs) are now planned for implementation by T2S. The CR T2S-0734-SYS "Allow 18 digits (of which max 2 decimals) in Amount fields of messages camt.004, camt.052, camt.053" is to be deployed in production with the T2-T2S Consolidation project on 20 March 2023.
The attached list provides an overview of the CRs. In this list, customers acting in (Cash) DCP mode will find more information and an indication, whether a CR requires an update of the XSD files (please refer to column “XSD Change for DCP”). The final version of the XSD files modified for T2S Release 6.2 was presented on 2 August 2022. More details on these requirements can be found in the related ECB documentation3.
Based on the functional description provided by T2S, CBF assessed the system requirements for November Release 2022. CBF aims to absorb the impact on customers acting in ICP mode as much as possible. The latest assessment shows that there will be no change in the procedures for customers acting in ICP mode.
Problem Tickets (PBIs)
Based on the latest reporting of end of October 2022, ten PBIs have been identified that might have an impact on CBF’s customers acting in ICP and / or DCP mode. CBF regularly checks the lists of pending PBIs provided by T2S. The verification result is included in the second list attached.
CBF’s assessment for these Problem Tickets shows that the fixes will not require software changes in CBF. Customers are recommended to validate these scope elements and check whether operational and / or functional modifications in their procedures are required.
Transition plan
The installation of T2S Release 6.2 into production is planned for the third weekend in November 2022. The deployment will be executed via the “Release Weekend Schedule”. In line with the deployment approach of previous T2S Releases, the schedule of the T2S Operational Day will be modified according to the implementation activities. The deployment will start once the end of day procedure (“T2S End of Day”) on Friday, 18 November 2022, has been completed.
The table below provides an overview of the upcoming T2S milestones:
T2S Service Transition Plan
Activity for T2S Release 6.2 | Date |
End of testing of R6.2 scope elements in Pre-Production | Wednesday, 2 November 2022 |
OMG Go / No-Go decision to deploy R6.2 to Production | Thursday, 10 November 2022 |
MIB approves the R6.2 deployment to Production | Friday, 11 November 2022 |
Deployment of R6.2 to Production | Saturday, 19 November 2022 |
T2S Release 6.2 Implementation timeline
CBF Enhancements for T2S Release 6.2
CBF aims to mitigate the impact on customers operating in ICP mode as much as possible. Functional enhancements delivered by T2S will be included in CBF's scope of services. CBF will adapt functionalities and the automated connectivity channels (SWIFT, MQ or File Transfer (FT)) according to the future service level. Based on the analysis of the T2S Change Request documentation provided by T2S, the adjustments that will be effective for customers in ICP mode will be implemented by CBF without any impact on customers.
Customer simulation
The simulation activities will be conducted in a “free simulation mode”. The already established static data for CBF accounts and the related connectivity settings in the CBF customer simulation environment (IMS23) remain unchanged. However, as of 6 October 2022, the customer SWIFT interface from where the test messages will be sent and received must support “SWIFT future mode”.
According to the ECB planning, the updated software for the T2S Release 6.2 has been installed on Friday, 23 September 2022, in the T2S Pre-Production Environment (UTEST). The scope of testing also includes CR T2S-0734-SYS "Allow 18 digits (of which max 2 decimals) in Amount fields of messages camt.004, camt.052, camt.053", although a productive use will not be possible until the T2-T2S Consolidation project on 20 March 2023.
CBF updated all necessary software components in IMS23 on time. The customer simulation environment is available for testing since 24 October 2022. A dedicated webpage provides information on the availability of the CBF customer simulation environment (IMS23).
Transition Weekend
Mid-October 2022, CBF published the Indicative Timeline for the T2S Release 6.2 Deployment Weekend. This timetable is to be updated on 14 November 2022, shortly before the implementation of the release.
Contact
For further information, customers may contact Clearstream Banking Client Services or their Relationship Officer. Questions related to the technical connection can be addressed to Connectivity Support. Particular questions related to the production launch in November 2022 will be routed to the experts of the T2S Release Management.
------------------------------------------
1. See ECB’s publication: Eurosystem reschedules start of renewed wholesale payment system (europa.eu)
2. This Announcement is published by Clearstream Banking AG (CBF), registered office at Mergenthalerallee 61, 65760 Eschborn, Germany, registered with the Commercial Register of the District Court in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under number HRB 7500.
3. Details about the scope elements of T2S Release 6.2 are published on the ECB’s website.