Extending Broadband Reach in Scotland Helen Foster BroadEdged Consultants Procurement and Contract Manager

A bit of history In August 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 more Cluster with 5-9 Less 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 – ,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