Extending Broadband Reach

in Scotland

Helen FosterBroadEdged Consultants

Procurement and Contract Manager

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

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

Cluster with 10 or moreCluster with 5-9Less than 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

• 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

Components of the Service

• Avanti (Caledonian) are the prime contractor– Subsiduary of Avanti Communications Ltd

• No one solution perfect for everybody/everywhere– Radio Wireless for groups of > 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

Solutions selected

• 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

Takeup of the offer

• Very successful project– Supporting local businesses to stay local– Supporting young families staying local and staying

together• Remote learning• Support for small schools and individual’s homework• Online shopping • Other ways to earn an income• Local landowners are taking up the services as they can’t 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

Conclusion