NBP: Change of direction (confirmation)

clohamon

DCENR have updated their website on the National Broadband Plan.

There's an extended NBP implementation page and a new FAQ page. There is almost no new information beyond the April pre-election announcement, but who would have known they were previously "containing the intervention to an upper speed limit"? Extraordinary admission.

2. The National Broadband Plan committed to specific download speed targets, why is there a move away from this commitment?

Rather than to moving away from this commitment, the State intervention will ensure that we are not limited by speed targets. It recognises that we need to design a network that is scalable and that can support the services of today and tomorrow.

A more sustainable, future proofed network with fibre at its core is intended to definitively address the urban rural divide. By containing the intervention to an upper speed limit, there is a risk that the solution deployed would not be capable of keeping up with the exponential increases in demand currently being experienced.

Delivery of the proposed fibre based infrastructure provides a future proofed solution that can scale up to meet increasing demands. It will also ensure that the State does not need to continually intervene in the market as new applications and services continue to drive demand for bandwidth.

3. Why has the focus of the State intervention shifted to a fibre build – what is the benefit of this approach?

Fibre is recognised internationally as future proofed, resilient, reliable and able to carry unlimited data. The closer the end user is to the fibre network, the better the service they will get. Placing fibre at the core of this strategy means that a solution will be delivered that will meet the needs not just for today’s generation but for generations to come.

The fibre build is part of an end to end strategy aimed at definitively addressing the urban rural digital divide. Furthermore, it will deliver infrastructure capable of serving demand for decades to come.

6. What supporting measures are envisaged?

Consideration is to be given to an appropriate demand led mechanism where consumers and businesses can come together and request connection to the fibre network as it is deployed. Such a scheme could accelerate the extension of the planned fibre build out to areas outside those towns and villages initially targeted.

The challenges posed by Ireland’s widely dispersed population and topography means that it will be necessary to provide alternative access solutions for a small percentage of the population. Further consideration is to be given to the details of an appropriate intervention in this regard.

The outcome of deliberations on these issues will be included in the comprehensive implementation strategy to be published later this year.

bealtine

clohamon wrote: »

DCENR have updated their website on the National Broadband Plan.

There's an extended NBP implementation page and a new FAQ page. There is almost no new information beyond the April pre-election announcement, but who would have known they were previously "containing the intervention to an upper speed limit"? Extraordinary admission.

My reading of "Demand led" seems to suggest that they will extend the fibre if there is a demand and if businesses and "people" come together perhaps to fund it...I guess that's one hopeful one way of reading it, I suspect it won't mean that at all.

clohamon

bealtine wrote: »

My reading of "Demand led" seems to suggest that they will extend the fibre if there is a demand and if businesses and "people" come together perhaps to fund it...I guess that's one hopeful one way of reading it, I suspect it won't mean that at all.

If it means money, best be clear about it. They need to get some idea of that by doing a pilot village fibre project as soon as possible, then work out a transparent opt in mechanism for any village, community or individual consumer.

If they do that, then communities can start to get organised now. So that means locking-in villages already on the list and giving them certainty. Extra villages could still be added.

Worst thing possible is if villages or communities default to DSL/VDSL because they aren't ready or there's an insufficiency of network installers available.

bealtine

clohamon wrote: »

If it means money, best be clear about it. They need to get some idea of that by doing a pilot village fibre project as soon as possible, then work out a transparent opt in mechanism for any village, community or individual consumer.

If they do that, then communities can start to get organised now. So that means locking-in villages already on the list and giving them certainty. Extra villages could still be added.

Worst thing possible is if villages or communities default to DSL/VDSL because they aren't ready or there's an insufficiency of network installers available.

Well some rural areas would only be suitable for Fixed Wireless there just wouldn't be any houses at all in some of the areas outlined. I hope the WISPs get it together to help plan out what can be done...

watty

If Comreg, ASAI, CAI and DCENR would work together it would immensely help Broadband, Fibre and especially WISPs.

What they need to do

1. Ban all Mobile Adverts claiming Mobile is Broadband. It isn't. Not even 4G/LTE.
2. Stop "unlimited data plans" on Mobile. It damages the performance for real mobile users. Only fixed users need it. The Data cap should be realistic on Mobile to limit congestion/contention. People that are genuinely out of office / Home, on the go should get the performance that they are paying for, not 1/3rd performance because of heavy use by fixed users. Many people that COULD be using real broadband are using Mobile instead because it's 1/2 to 1/4 price and advertised as Broadband. They are NOT using it for Mobility or because DSL / Cable / Fixed wireless is unavailable.
3. Stop cross subsidy of Data by SMS and Voice. For a €20 Data vs €20 Voice only package the voice is costing them 1/100th.
4. Mobile operators to only quote average speed at peak time. Never Up To.
5. Mobile operators to quote percentage connections dropped and estimated refused at peak times.

Obviously ALL ISPs should quote peak time / busy hour average speeds. As was promised over SEVEN years ago!
At the minute the current Favouritism toward Mobile and allowing Mobile to dishonestly advertise reduces capital investment in all Broadband, especially Fixed Wireless.

"Sam Knows" will not supply a "broadband Performance" monitoring box for ANY Mobile contract. They will supply one for Digiweb Metro Fixed Wireless.

Mobile (including LTE/4G) has a lower speed of Zero (connection refused or dropped), a lowest connected speed of 0.1Mbps to 0.5Mbps depending on system. The "Up to Speed" quoted by Mobile is meaningless and should NOT be allowed in any promotional material. It's unfair and unbalanced comparison with DSL, Fixed Wireless, Cable or Fibre.

It wouldn't be because of the Giant Licence Revenue from Mobile that is influencing the "Powers that be?"

Eircom admitted some years ago that they had to have Meteor "match" the Data prices of other Mobile operators and that this was cannibalising their own DSL business. That shows Regulatory failure.

Mobile operators make a lot from Voice and SMS and very little or a loss from Data. Look at the money Hong Kong has pumped in to allow Three to make a loss on Data.

Digiweb virtually ceased Fixed Wireless roll out in 2007 because of the low cost of Mobile Data and the huge difference in Subscriber install cost.

my3cents

Thanks watty I know you have had plenty of practice but that is one of the best explanations of the problems and what needs doing I have ever read.