The Future of
Broadband is in the
Community
Malcolm Corbett, CEO
Community Broadband Network

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

What Did These Schemes Achieve?
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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)
Broadband Stakeholder Group report into Next
Generation broadband, April 2007

Top down
National Roll-out
“No business
£30bn case”
Cu Fibre
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

The Patchwork Quilt is Growing

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
Francesco Caio speaking at the Next Gen 08
Conference, Manchester, November 2008
Create the conditions to favour the development of new investment models
Establish standards for local NGA developments
Direct Government support towards open access networks

Digital Britain Final Report
The Next Generation Fund
A supplement of 50p on all fixed lines
Support for Localised Projects
Support their capacity, scale and expertise
Support the Independent Networks Co-operative
Association (INCA)

Alston, Cumbria
A Small Market Town

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?

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

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
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• Investment case based on
no
– Long term financing
gn
– Community engagement
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– Limited public subsidy

Glasgow: West Whitlawburn Housing Co-op

• 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
Mike Appleford & Anne Anderson

Open Network E-Manchester
E-M

• Revised indicative coverage
• 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

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?

The digital revolution lies at heart of Britain’s success
We must make sure own industries are competitive
We must invest in the downturn for the future ... In
technological infrastructure
The infrastructure of the future is the digital network

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…
The Future of Broadband is in
the Community
Thank You
Malcolm Corbett
m.corbett@broadband.coop
www.broadband.coop