1) A small computer services company investigated opportunities for sub loop unbundling (SLU) in rural areas starting with the smallest county in the UK, Rutland. SLU involves deploying infrastructure to bypass part of BT's local loop network to increase broadband speeds for rural customers. 2) SLU provides opportunities to service rural customers with higher broadband speeds by deploying cabinets and backhaul infrastructure near primary connection points. However, capital costs are highly variable and achieving economies of scale is challenging with low customer densities. 3) An initial trial of SLU in the village of Lyddington, located 5km from the telephone exchange, successfully increased broadband speeds from 0.3Mbps to 12-15Mb

1. SUB LOOP UNBUNDLING OPPORTUNITIES& CHALLENGES

2. Background Small computer services company – David Lewis

3. LLU Telecoms Consultancy - Mark Melluish

4. Initial Plan to unbundle UK’s smallest county – Rutland

5. Delved further into SLU – to solve specific problem (Lyddington)

6. Observer ran small article on Lyddington 5th May 2009 – picked up by BBC Radio 4‘Today’ & Chris Evans Radio 2 ‘Drivetime’

7. Resulted in enquiries from across UKMain Elements in SLU for Rural Communities Rural demand –niche opportunity

8. Capital cost of deployment: cabinet, power, backhaul, connection fees. Highly variable.

9. Running cost –viability threshold

10. Local service & support

11. Presence of PCP & accuracy of PCP data

12. Planning permission

13. Technical/regulatory issuesSLU – SUB LOOP UNBUNDLING PCP – Primary Connection Point

14. 90+k PCP’s in UK

15. All passive – no mains power

16. Various sizes

17. Some need upgradeLYDDINGTON - WHERE?

18. LYDDINGTON - WHERE?