DELIVERING YOUR PROJECT
Look for possible broadband providers
A number of community broadband groups have worked with commercial and not for profit organisations to successfully achieve an improved broadband service in their area. Check out the case study section for examples. You can use a search engine to find possible operators. Remember that you need an organisation that installs the necessary infrastructure, not just an Internet Service Provider. Terms such as wireless community broadband, satellite broadband and fibre based community broadband give some leads.
It may be that there is a strong enough business case for the operator to take on all aspects of the installation and delivery of the service.
Developing your own broadband solution
There are many examples where communities have worked with an operator when no service provider has plans in their area. By undertaking certain tasks themselves the community can reduce the costs, often making the difference between an affordable service being provided and no improvement taking place. The tasks undertaken go from gaining permissions and consents from landowners and planning authorities to digging trenches to bring fibre optic cable to the community.
There are 3 distinct stages to bringing broadband services to consumers, each requiring different skills:
- Supplying and installing the infrastructure which brings broadband to the community
- Managing the network equipment
- Providing an ongoing service connecting consumers to the internet
Installing and operating a community broadband network is complex, and a range of particular skills will be required which are explored in What skills are needed. (click link)
WHERE CAN I GO TO FOR HELP?
Making your project attractive to ISPs
One issue you may have to tackle is how to make your network attractive to large service providers, allowing consumers a choice of service. Standards governing this relationship are being developed by NICC http://www.niccstandards.org.uk/current-work/index.cfm
Linking service providers and operators
JON Exchange works to help network operators link with service providers. For help go to: http://www.jon-exchange.net.
Fibre to home broadband
The Fibre to the Home Council Europe draws its membership from more than 150 of the technology industry's leading companies. They have many years of experience in deploying complex solutions to the broadband market and have advised governments and service providers in the delivery of services. Their aim is to promote fibre to the home broadband. To help achieve this it has produced a comprehensive business guide.
Whilst the guide was developed specifically for fibre to the home broadband much of it is useful reading for a community organisation looking to deliver any broadband solution. The guide deals with all steps from project conception through to business planning and deals with revenues, expenditure and regulation.
Go to:http://wiki.ftthcouncil.eu/index.php/FTTH_Business_Guide
