Extending Broadband Reach in Scotland

1
Extending Broadband Reach in Scotland

• Helen Foster
• BroadEdged Consultants
• Procurement and Contract Manager

2
A bit of history

• In August 2001 - Scottish broadband coverage was
  43
• Compared to 63 across the UK
• Cable limited to the larger cities
• BT copper elsewhere, but only large exchanges
  enabled
• In June 2004, a target of affordable broadband to
  every community by the end of 2005 was set - the
  Broadband for Scotland project.
• Project completed by end 2005
• 99 of the population now able to access basic
  broadband

3
Out of Reach

• Exchange enablement still left a problem
• ADSL (conventional broadband) only goes so far
• approx 8km max. but rarely that far
• Scotland has a very thinly distributed rural
  population
• Many out of reach for conventional broadband
• Many out of reach for mobile data services
• No mapping information
• Data protection excludes the use of BT
  information
• Can be unreliable due to local conditions
• Challenge to identify who needed access
• Marketing campaign
• Radio and press

4
Cluster with 10 or more Cluster with 5-9 Less
than 5
5
Broadband Reach Project

• Aim is to provide an affordable broadband
  service to everyone who has notified us directly
  of genuine inability to access Basic Broadband
  using the copper or fibre networks
• Up to 3.4M grant funding made available by the
  Scottish Government
• No European funding sought
• State Aid notification to European Commission
• OJEU procurement
• Technology supplier neutral

6
Components of the Service

• A network to deliver the service
• Local access and backhaul
• 512k download/256k upload service
• An ISP service to provide internet access
• Customer support and billing services
• Telephone support for questions
• Value added services
• higher speed connections
• email,web hosting etc

7
Solutions selected

• Avanti (Caledonian) are the prime contractor
• Subsiduary of Avanti Communications Ltd
• No one solution perfect for everybody/everywhere
• Radio Wireless for groups of gt 30
• Techically able to use the same radio
  infrastructure (near line of sight)
• Wholesale BT copper connection to internet
• Enables the area with broadband after the
  completion of the project
• Wi-Fi networks for groups of 4-29
• Line of sight required
• Connection to the internet using a common
  satellite station
• Enables the area and very cost effective
• Standalone satellite dishes for isolated places
• All satellite connections 2 way no reliance on
  voice lines

8
Takeup of the offer

• Expecting approx. 2,000 connections to be made by
  end May 2009
• By technology
• 85 will be standalone satellite dishes
• 10 will be wi-fi for small groups
• 5 will be radio wireless
• By package
• 80 have domestic packages (includes micro
  businesses)
• 20 business packages up to 3Mbs
• Businesses include
• Fish, cattle and other farms inc stables,
  catteries and kennels
• Business information services
• Hotels, museums and tourist related businesses
• Sporting estates and holiday cottage accomodation
• Distilleries and food processors
• Boat builders, media companies, engineers,
  translators etc etc etc

9
Conclusion

• Very successful project
• Supporting local businesses to stay local
• Supporting young families staying local and
  staying together
• Remote learning
• Support for small schools and individuals
  homework
• Online shopping
• Other ways to earn an income
• Local landowners are taking up the services as
  they cant keep tenants in the more remote
  locations without being able to provide broadband
• Supporting the delivery of public services
• Access to social services and medical advice
• Easing of isolation