What is Broadband?
Broadband access gives data bandwidths of at
least 1Mbit/sec, and typically 2Mbit/sec to 10Mbit/sec, as compared to the
64Kbit or 128Kbit bandwidth of ISDN dial-up or the 14Kbit/sec to 56Kbit/sec of
PSTN dial-up.
Availability of ‘Domestic’ broadband
services such as ADSL, at commodity charges of under £50 per month, is very
limited, and this gives the impression that Broadband is ‘not possible’. Contrary
to this popular myth, Broadband is available at any site, but can be
significantly more expensive at some locations.
Broadband typically gives more than 30 times the bandwidth of dial-up, usually at three to five times the cost, and with an installation cost of a few thousand pounds per site.
In addition to data, it is possible to provide voice telephony and ISDN services over a broadband data circuit. This entails a little more equipment and engineering work to set up, but provides a much richer set of services to users.
UHI Broadband service for Local Learning Centres
Two types of service are proposed: data-only, and data-voice-video.
These differ in installation cost but are
based on the same circuits and have the same recurrent cost; data-voice-video
adds internal voice and ISDN service and so allows Local Learning Centres to
make a significant saving in other recurrent costs if sufficient capital is
available to pay for the extra equipment required.
Charge Bands
For convenience, three charge bands are identified. The cost difference derives primarily from the cost of the circuits underpinning each connection; the equipment requirements are broadly similar and in any case contribute a relatively small part of the cost.
Band A – local connection to UHI PoP.
Band A uses a short-haul connection to connect to a nearby UHI PoP – either in the same BT exchange area or within line-of-sight. Relatively few Local Learning Centres fit into this category.
Band B – 2Mbit terrestrial connection
Band B1 uses a long-haul 2Mbit/sec connection to connect to a distant UHI PoP.
Band B2 applies to each of two sites, connected to each other by a short-haul link and sharing a long-haul connection to a distant UHI PoP. At most one of these may opt for the data-voice-video solution.
Almost all Local Learning Centres will find this the most appropriate connection.
Band C – 1Mbit satellite connection
Band C1 uses a 1Mbit/sec connection via a satellite link. This connection can only support data-only service.
Band C2 applies to each of two sites, connected to each other by a short-haul link and sharing a satellite connection. Neither of these can opt for the data-voice-video solution as the satellite connection is intrinsically data-only.
This service would apply when Band B service is too expensive even taking the improved service of Band B into account.
Typical Charges
Data-Voice-Video
|
Band |
Circumstances |
Solution |
Installation |
Annual |
|
A |
UHI PoP in the locality |
HDSL circuit or Wireless LAN link to UHI
PoP |
£10,000 |
£1,000 |
|
B1 |
No other UHI site in the locality |
BT LearningStream or other Leased Line to
UHI PoP |
£10,000 |
£7,200 |
|
B2 |
Another UHI Broadband site in the
locality shares the link. |
HDSL circuit or Wireless LAN link to
other site; BT LearningStream or other Leased Line to UHI PoP |
£10,000 |
£4,000 each |
Data Only
|
Band |
Circumstances |
Solution |
Installation |
Annual |
|
A |
UHI PoP in the locality |
HDSL circuit or Wireless LAN link to UHI
PoP |
£3,000 |
£1,000 |
|
B1 |
No other UHI site in the locality |
BT LearningStream or other Leased Line to
UHI PoP |
£3,000 |
£7,200 |
|
B2 |
Another UHI Broadband site in the
locality is connected to UHI PoP, and shares the link. |
HDSL circuit or Wireless LAN link to
other site; BT LearningStream or other Leased Line to UHI PoP |
£3,000 in addition to B1 charge |
£4,000 each |
|
C1 |
No other UHI site nearby |
Satellite link. [rental option] |
£2,000 |
£4,200 p.a. |
|
|
|
[purchase option] |
£6,400 |
£2,350 p.a. |
|
C2 |
Another UHI Broadband site nearby is connected by satellite, and shares the link. |
HDSL circuit or Wireless LAN link to
other site; Satellite link. [C1 rental option] |
£3,000 in addition to C1 charge |
£2,850 each. |
|
|
|
[C1 purchase option] |
£3,000 in addition to C1 charge |
£1,900 each |
5-year life cost summary
Recommendation
Band A or B data-voice-video service gives the most cost-effective service as it allows other costs such as ISDN VideoConferencing lines and charges to be reduced. When sufficient capital is available this solution does most to contribute to long term sustainability of Local Learning Centres by controlling recurrent costs while providing a high quality service including ‘on-campus’ feel.
Band
A/B – Data Voice & Video service
Data, Voice
and ISDN VC service based on Data Only service but with the addition of
internal UHI Voice Telephony and internal ISDN-2 for VideoConferencing,
allowing in addition to the above:
·
main campus switchboard can
provide Operator service to the Learning Centre
·
Learning Centre staff can
assist in providing the main Switchboard Operator service to the main campus
· Direct internal dialling between Learning Centres and Main Campus extensions
·
Standard high-quality internal
telephony services such as DDI, voicemail, ‘camp-on’, ring back, online
internal directory, etc.
·
Internal ISDN Video calls at no
additional cost
·
External calls placed via main Academic
Partner Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) service at much lower tariff
than available locally
This service currently requires a serial 2Megabit circuit as the main bearer or as a supplemental circuit engineered over a self-provided circuit. In consequence, different engineering considerations may apply at some sites, subject to survey.
Data-voice-video service allows cost
savings to be achieved by cancelling other telephony services such as BT ISDN
lines, and is our recommended solution for all but the smallest sites.
Examples
Tobermory, Dunoon, Bowmore, Rothesay,
Lochgilphead, Campbeltown, and Lamlash (Argyll); Mallaig (Lochaber); Alness and
Dornoch (
Schematic
Band
A/B – Data Only service
Data-only service at around 2 to 10Megabits, either by self-provided circuit or using BT LearningStream.
This service allows access to all UHI data
services as on the main Campus of the Academic Partner, including
- Netware login/authentication services
- GroupWise email service
- SIS student enrolment management
- OLIB library catalogue for catalogue and issue of locally and
centrally held stock
The typical bandwidth for this offering is 2Megabits/sec; but in some circumstances data bandwidth of 4, 5, 6 or 10 Megabits may be possible, depending on the most cost effective method of implementation. This service will always be implemented so as to achieve best value.
Examples
(Band A)
(Band B) Keith, Buckie, Nairn and Forres
(Moray).
Schematic
Band
C – Data Only service
Data-only service via Satellite.
This service allows access to all UHI data
services as on the main Campus of the Academic Partner, including
- Netware login/authentication services
- GroupWise email service
- SIS student enrolment management
- OLIB library catalogue for catalogue and issue of locally and
centrally held stock
Download speed is around 1Mbit/sec and upload around 256Kbit/sec.
Band C data-only service is a relatively
new addition to the service portfolio and is expected to have relatively
limited applicability; however when additional installation charges are applied
by BT for a difficult-to-reach site this service may be preferred on cost
grounds alone.
Rental and Purchase Options
The satellite ground station is available either to purchase or to rent. Satellite service charges apply in either case, and installation charges also apply in either case, but the option to rent or buy the ground station does allow some limited degree of trade-off between capital and recurrent costs. In general we recommend the rental option since this allows for eventual upgrade to a Band B connection without having to write off the ground station cost.
Examples
JISC Satellite Trial sites at Kilchoan,
Kinlochleven, Cairndow, Barra and Portree.
Schematic
