This document summarizes the UK government's £10 million Market Testing Pilots program to explore expanding broadband coverage beyond 95% using new wireless and hybrid network solutions. Eight projects were selected testing technologies like wireless, satellite, and fiber. The projects will now submit feasibility reports and potentially deploy pilot networks. Insights from the pilots will help inform future government investment to extend broadband coverage to hard to reach areas.

1. Page 1
Wireless Broadband opportunities
in BDUK Programmes
Matt Agar, BDUK Commercial Lead
INCA Conference
25 June 2014

2. Page 2
£10m innovation fund: Market Testing Pilots

3. Page 3
Objectives
Market Engagement
Market engagement in September
2013 showed that new solutions would
be required in order to extend
coverage beyond 95%.
Further insight is required to establish
the feasibility and scalability of
potential solutions, as well as more
detailed modelling of the likely costs.
The government has allocated funding
to encourage suppliers to gather this
insight which will help inform future
government investment decisions.
Progress to date
Estimated £20 benefit for
£1 public subsidy by 2024
under current rollout plan
44+ local bodies now have
broadband project
delivery capability
300k+ premises passed
Another 40k each week
from Summer 2014
Programmes
Superfast
Broadband
Rollout
Programme
• Aims to deliver 95% superfast coverage
• BDUK funding of £530 allocated in 2011
• An additional £250m of BDUK funding allocated in February
2014
£10m Market
Test Pilots
• ITT published 21 March 2014
• Will fund a range of projects across various parts of the UK
• Test different technical, commercial, financial and
operational models for extending coverage.
• Focus is on learning (as opposed to coverage).
Extend Coverage
Beyond 95%
• Further information would be needed to enable a programme
to be designed
• Output from the Market Test Pilots will be used to create a
business case for such a programme.

4. Page 4
Project timescales - procurement
• Procurement and contracting phase completed successfully
– 26 suppliers submitted tenders, 38 bids in total
– 8 projects selected and paired with 9 host Local Authorities and Devolved
Administrations
March April May Jun - August Sept Oct onwards
Response
Supplier
Engagement
Evaluation and
contracting
Review
Findings
Publish
ITT
Deployed Pilot Services Phase and
Regular Reporting
Supplier
Events
Bids
Received
Contracts
Awarded
Feasibility
Report
Phase
State aid
approvals
Latest Date
for Feasibility
Report

5. Page 5
Selected projects
Wireless
• AB Internet in Wales: deploying fibre & P2P microwave to the mast;
5.8GHz P2MP wireless access at 50Mbps
• Airwave in North Yorkshire: comparing four wireless delivery
approaches: 2.4GHz WiFi, 5.8GHz P2P wireless, LTE small cells, TV
white space
• Quickline in North Lincolnshire: collaborating with University of Hull,
testing near line of sight and non-line of sight P2MP wireless, plus
impact of vouchers on take-up
Hybrid
• CallFlow in Hampshire: overlaying FTTC, P2MP wireless and FTTP for a
complete superfast solution within a cabinet footprint

6. Page 6
Selected projects (cont.)
Satellite
• Avanti in Scotland and Northern Ireland: testing the latest generation
of VSAT equipment capable of providing >30Mbps speeds over Ka-
band satellite
• BeyonDSL in Devon & Somerset: testing satellite backhaul to feed
new local wireless networks in remote areas
Operating model
• MLL Telecom in Kent: developing a wholesale access platform for
integrating and aggregating small wireless networks
Financial model
• Cybermoor in Northumberland: leveraging sources of Social
Investment Finance to reduce public subsidy requirement for FTTP
and wireless networks

7. Page 7
Project timescales – delivery
• Projects now enter into Feasibility Report phase
• Approved projects proceed into Deployed Pilot Services phase
• BDUK will continue to engage with the wider marketplace
March April May Jun - August Sept Oct onwards
Response
Supplier
Engagement
Evaluation and
contracting
Review
Findings
Publish
ITT
Deployed Pilot Services Phase and
Regular Reporting
Supplier
Events
Bids
Received
Contracts
Awarded
Feasibility
Report
Phase
State aid
approvals
Latest Date
for Feasibility
Report

8. Page 8
Upcoming challenges
• Maximising the value of the feasibility study phase
• Achieving State aid approval for the pilots
• Making tri-partite relationships as productive as possible
• Managing barriers to scalability for viable solutions

9. Page 9
Super-connected Cities Programme

10. Page 10
Breadth of wireless activity
• Metronet, CFL, UK Broadband and other suppliers are using the
Connection Voucher Scheme to expand coverage in many cities
• Wifi in public buildings (including cultural, community and civic
centres) currently live in Derby, Perth, Leeds and Bradford.
• Wifi on public transport now live in Leeds/Bradford and
Edinburgh
• Wifi concessions in open spaces/city centres live in Cardiff,
Leeds and Bradford and soon to launch in Edinburgh and York.