Recommendations
...a further £37k of funding has been bid for from SEEDA as an extension to the wireless broadband Internet access project. Details of this project are set out at Appendix 4.
 

3.21 Various administrative, physical and planning ‘hurdles’ have caused a delay in getting equipment installed onto the Bow Brickhill Tower, but these are now largely overcome and the next wave of connections is imminently expected.

3.22 It is understood that ntl are committed to this project and will run the pilot study until at least the end of July, by which time they will make an announcement as to the commercial roll out and availability of the service on a continuing basis.

3.23 A submission has already been made to SEEDA for further funding (£37k) in support of this project initiative, specifically to support the installation of the new equipment at Bow Brickhill. This has not yet been approved. However, a number of meetings with SEEDA Officers have taken place in support of our claim and we remain optimistic that the grant will be obtained.

3.24 In the lead up to July the Council’s retained IT staff and other officers will undertake further business case analysis work with ntl to examine the potential for the Council to continue as a partner with ntl in the delivery of these services and to determine what the costs and benefits should be for both parties.

Appendix 4

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS AND ISSUES IN RELATION TO THE WIRELESS BROADBAND PROJECT

1. Overall we began by aiming to have 200 people including one school and one business connected by around October 2003.

2. While a good deal of work has been done so far progress has been that due to line of sight issues (chiefly with trees) that 70 people have been connected up, so far. In order to address the line of sight issues new equipment is being installed on to a tower at Bow Brickhill. This new equipment will have a reach of up to 10 kilometres.

3. We are presently following up connections to a school and to businesses. One of the Sector Antennae on the Linford Wood Tower is being reconfigured to support access to multiple businesses.

4. By the end of May 2004 the number of active triallists should exceed 150. A large number of triallists will be enabled when the Bow Brickhill transmitters become active.

5. We are now aiming to run the pilot at least until the end of July 2004.

6. Part of the rational in extending the pilot into next summer is that we want the trees in leaf to check that this does not affect any services to connected houses.

7. ntl believe that they will be in a position to have determined whether they will roll out the service as a continuing commercial offering to the citizens and businesses of MK by the end of July 2004.

8. Those that are connected are highly delighted with the services. Conversely those that we have not been able to connect are no doubt presently disappointed - though we have committed to review such cases when new transmission equipment comes on stream at Bow Brickhill.

9. To try to keep people who are expressing an interest in the trial and in this service informed of progress, we are providing updates on to our own web site and aim to keep other pressure group leaders informed (e.g. Nick Hubbard).

10. In the period up to the end of December 2003 a lot of focus was put on certain technical proving issues. Many areas within MK were tested. The successful and unsuccessful connection points were plotted on a map and part of this was to prove the value of the ntl line of sight planning tool PLATO - which might have been used in a commercial roll out scenario. We now have a good feel for those areas that can be readily seen from the Linford Wood Tower transmission point.

11. The Council’s broadband web pages on MK Web now contain downloadable forms so that those interested in this trial can apply online.

12. The feeling for ourselves and ntl is that the pilot is proving remarkably beneficial and though there is proof of line of sight issues both organisations regard the pilot as very successful.

13. We believe that ntl remain very committed to the project.

14. BT have responded (in a dynamic market) by creating a long reach ADSL trial and are seeking up to 1000 people in the MK area to take part. It is noteworthy that of the entire UK area, BT has chosen to run the long reach trial in MK.

15. Regarding any future commercial roll out it is still too early to say what the outcome will be but some positive public comments on this were made at a recent workshop held in the Council Chamber and attended by around 60 residents and other organisations.

16. Meetings have been held with SEEDA representatives to discuss future funding issues and progress. We have proposed that SEEDA should fund ‘an extension’ to the pilot (contributing to the new transmission equipment installed at Bow Brickhill) and have bid to get a further £37k from SEEDA.

17. In the longer term (between May and July) we will seek to investigate commercial options with ntl.

18. BT has appointed a 'trouble-shooter' to address the service delivery issues it faces.

19. ntl and BT are understood to remain in discussions over the upgrade of the cable network in the MK area. Previously the cost of extending the use of the cable network (or upgrading it) was estimated to be several millions. However that network can currently only address around 59000 of the estimated 90000+ homes in the MK area.

Steven Jewell