The Future of Broadband is in the

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The Future of Broadband is in the Community
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Community Broadband UK

• CBN established in 2004
• Approx 200 local groups assisted
• Delivering connectivity and services in the
  toughest areas
• Mainly providing fixed wireless access
• Mix of Social Enterprises SMEs
• Rural urban projects

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What Did These Schemes Achieve?
From . 60 To . 99.8 Read the Small
Print
CBNs 2006 report remains the most comprehensive
national survey of broadband notspots
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The Next Generation Broadband Dilemma

• New services need far higher speeds to deliver
  video content for business entertainment
• Current telecoms network can support this for
  only 50 of UK population
• Rural areas poor urban areas will be left
  behind
• Investment required for NGA in UK estimated at
  5bn (FTTC) to 30bn (FTTH)

April 2007
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Top downNational Roll-out
No businesscase
30bn
Fibre
Cu
Bottom up Community Coordination Organise
demand Build the Investment case Develop
Practical examples 30bn is a big number 1500
per household / business is not
t
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In September Francesco Caio reported
In the short term, the case for a major
Government intervention is weak but
government should act now to support investment
in NGA
Create the conditions to favour the development
of new investment models Establish standards for
local NGA developments Direct Government support
towards open access networks
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The Patchwork Quilt is Growing
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Alston, Cumbria A Small Market Town
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Alston Alston Moor

• 938 households
• Population density 24 homes per km2
• National average 377 homes per km2
• The most sparsely populated parish in England
• Consequently the last place where NGA is
  do-able

or is it?
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Daniel Heery, Director Alston Cybermoor Operator
of the local community wireless broadband network
connecting 35 of local homes and
businesses Offering community, health and
business services Transforming Cybermoor into
Fibremoor, aiming to connect 100 of homes to
next gen fibre and wireless A rural community-led
project
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A Next Gen Network for Alston

• 100 of homes covered
• Up to 100Mbps symmetric service
• Cost per home - 2900
• No price premium over copper services
• Investment case based on
• Long term financing
• Community engagement
• Limited public subsidy

Digging soon?
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Glasgow West Whitlawburn Housing Co-op
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• 500 households in a very poor community
• Building 100 new properties
• Installing p2p fibre
• Launched Whitcomm, a new co-op to manage the
  service, at the Scottish Parliament in November
• The first fibre connections go live in February
  2009
• An urban housing led project

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• Pilot project to connect 500-1000 homes and
  businesses to fibre
• 0.5m funding approved by NWDA in November 2008,
  tenders being prepared
• Includes some of the poorest areas of the city
• Aiming to create a Living Lab testbed for new
  applications and services
• Setting up a community co-op to organise services
• A public sector regeneration-led project

• Revised indicative coverage

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A project to address these questions What is the
potential for communities to raise the sums
needed to invest in NGA? Are there sustainable
business models? What methods can be used to
engage communities and deliver projects to meet
their needs?
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How Can Government Help?(the bullet points)

• Support the creation of INCA to
• Act as a unified voice for local projects to
  government and industry
• Promote common technical business standards
• Create a body of expertise supporting next gen
  projects
• Underpin the development of the patchwork quilt
  by supporting the Joint Operating Network
• Provide support for advice to pre-feasibility
  projects
• Encourage public sector investment in innovative
  local schemes
• Focus rural investment on Next Generation, not
  Last Generation broadband

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Digital Britain Interim Report
ACTION 5 The Government will help implement the
Community Broadband Network's proposals for an
umbrella body to bring together all the local and
community networks and provide them with
technical and advisory support.
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Remember
The Future of Broadband is in the Community
Brian Condon b.condon_at_broadband.coop www.broadband
.coop