Post on 12-Mar-2018
Helping Rural Communities to Build Super-Fast Broadband
Networks- meeting the challenges!
Mark Jameson - Lancaster University Network Services (LUNS)
John Colton - Lucid Optical Services Ltd
- Fibre GarDen CIC
Alternative Title: FTTH the Hard Way© fibre GarDen 2012
What are the physics of an MPF?
l (MPF = Copper 'phone line)l Shannon–Hartley theorem gives us the
theoretical maximum capacity of the MPF:-
l C=B log2 (1+S/N)C= channel capacity (bps), B = bandwidth (Hz), S = received signal power, N = noise power
l Bandwidth is dependent upon insertion loss and loop impedance (products of cable and joint properties)
l A typical MPF should be capable of supporting up to something like 30Mhz (Considerably more if less than 200m).
l Throughput is dependent upon the modulation and encoding scheme. Graphic from Henrik Almeida, Ericsson
Why doesn't xDSL work well in rural areas?
l Line lengths are longer, often much longer
l The exchange Line only problem
l Lower subscriber numbers = lower return on investment
l “Ya canna change the laws of physics”
Security caught Scotty outside Uhura's bathroom with the Xray vision device – again.
What FFTC might look like for me
There will still be many problems.......
Plus - many lines known to be poor and very longAsymmetry is becoming a problem – along with time critical services (VoIP) etc.
Alternative 1. Wireless Broadband
l Typesl Mobile Data
− LTE, 4G
l Fixed Data− ISM band
2.4Ghz, 5.8Ghz− WiMAX− WhiteSpace
l Fixed Links
Advantages Disadvantages
Quick and cheap to set up, Flexible Slower, Less reliable, Interference
Alternative 2 – Satellite
l It is available now.l ka band generation
is an improvementl Still relatively
expensive per Mbl Long RTTs a
problem e.g. Skype not possible
Advantages Disadvantages
Near 100% coverage, commercial packages available now
Lower bandwidth, latency problem, traffic charges, contention will grow.
Alternative 3 – Fibre to the Home
l It's not just about broadband, it can deliver much morel Phonesl Telemedicinel Property values
l Rural Community projects have some key advantages.
Advantages Disadvantages
Massive B/W potential, Reliable, Future Proof. Green
High(er) capital costs, Wayleaves required, some disruption due to digging
FFTH capital cost comparison
Item Telco CommunityWayleaves $$$ “In kind”
Power provision £10k £2k
Facilities location £100k £5k
1Km dig £44k £15k
Backhaul £50K £150K
Why community FTTH / FTTP?• Future-proof• have to do it for ourselves
– or be left behind
• Community can reduce costs• Community can deliver greater take-up• Telco value multiplier is x2• Community value multiplier is x40• fits with ‘big society’ ethos
© fibre GarDen 2012
Community ProposalØ to create a future-proof infrastructure (Nielson’s Law)
Ø ensure network is available to 100% of the community
Ø user choice of bandwidth and ISP – open access
Ø spare fibres – at least 2 fibres per home/premise
Ø support for mobile operators, 4G roll-out & emergency
services
• means FTTH for a deeply rural community• before FTTH exists in most UK towns• a challenge!
© fibre GarDen 2012
Bringing superfast broadband through fibre-optic to the communities of
Garsdale and Dentdale
© fibre GarDen 2011
© fibre GarDen 2011
M6
Dentdale Garsdale
Length 10 miles 7 milesPopulation 675 202Households 407 94Businesses 194 43(of which farms) 64 20
Where the heck?
Sedbergh
UK funding for broadband• Delivered by BDUK• £530M pot of cash to distribute• identified ‘white’ areas – racist?• Cumbria 96.2% ‘white’ – biggest in England• £17,130,000 allocated to Cumbria as pilot area• Cumbria County Council the receiving body• CCC added £6M plus CCC contracts…• pot worth over £40M• still not enough for a telco…
© fibre GarDen 2012
Fibre GarDenØa BDUK technical pilot projectØRural Community Broadband Fund announced
by DEFRA = £20MØinvited to apply for RCBF superfast broadband
RDPE grant by BDUK & DEFRAØapplication currently in progressØstate-aid issues a concern for BDUK & DEFRAØencouraged to innovate(?)Øissues: backhaul, ‘last 10%’ rule & risks
© fibre GarDen 2012
What is superfast broadband?
• telco definition…up to…? – not a lot!• BDUK definition?
– >24 Mb/s• what does that mean?
– 25 Mb/s is superfast in the UK– 24 Mb/s is not!
• European definition?– at least 30 Mb/s– Ultra-fast defined as 100 Mb/s+
© fibre GarDen 2012
Fibre GarDen Assets
Farmers
Political support
& wellies!
© fibre GarDen 2012
Youngsters trained in cable pulling
Finance• Fibre GarDen need £600,000• RCBF grant £300 per premise = £150,000• Target £250,000 share issue• Remainder £200,000 loan or ethical fundShare Issue:
• 80% community investors
• 20% external investors
The Deal:
• no dividend likely
• share value set
Why???© fibre GarDen 2012
EIS benefits
• government provide 30% tax rebate • Invest £10,000• Receive £3,000 back from taxman• £10,000 shares has cost £7,000• £7,000 at risk?
– company bust with no assets– 50% of loss written off against tax– Worst case loss is 35% = £3,500
© fibre GarDen 2012
EIS benefits
• 3 yr b&b investment cycle yields 14% annual interest• Tax-free! Plus capital gains tax free!
© fibre GarDen 2011
Cash repaid
Invested
Cash invested Cash investedCash invested
Tax rebate
Effective cost of investment
Effective cost of investment
Nominal share value Nominal share value Tax rebate
Tax rebate
Years
Shares cashed-in
Shares cashed-in
Why Community Broadband?
© fibre GarDen 2012
to deliver:
• local knowledge
• effort – planning, admin & labour
• wayleaves – free of charge
• finance – funding benefits residents
• service take-up
• to sustain & regenerate rural areas
Who’s involved?• community residents:
– business leaders– accountants & administration roles– farmers– fit & able volunteers
• Specialists– network design & planning– notice serving– installation specialists (FIA AIS)– maintenance specialist (FIA AIS)
© fibre GarDen 2012
The Backhaul problem
Circumstances mean there is little (or no) choice. Can't shop around for a better deal – even where there are fibre runs
Common problem for all projectsNeed to look at this creativelySeek alternativesUse licensed band, or natural paths of “least
resistance” (canals, disused railways etc)Collaborate with other projects and/or local
businessesTake advantage of “Public Sector Network”
where available
Delivery of a high capacity link to community POP from telco (on their terms) is expensive
circa £250k capital plus £100kpa
Peering – what is it?Carrier networks are joined at
points around the globe where the ASes have agreed to meet
Here the ASes allow the traffic to hop from one AS to another
These are “peering” points (or internet exchanges)
Getting to an internet exchange and peering there is far better than being a “customer” of an ISP, or taking Internet transit.
After retiring from Starfleet Scotty filled his time in by hanging around the women's gym... Peering
Open Access – what does it mean?
Open Access means many ISPs can offer services over the infrastructure
More complex to set up but offers:-
Customer ChoiceOffload support burden
It becomes a wholesale network
PON vs Active
Many regard Passive Optical Networking as the “one true way” to deliver FTTH
But, due to the (small) number of subscribers, on most rural projects a fully active network is feasible and has some advantages
The trouble is PON vendors often offer the best deals
Potential Investors?
• Register your interest at:
www.fibre-GarDen.co.uk
© fibre GarDen 2012