Colchester’s model for NGA deployment: approach, infrastructure and applications

1. Colchester’s model for NGA deployment: approach, infrastructure and applications • Jim Leask • Senior Enterprise Officer • Strategic Policy and Regeneration • NextGen Roadshow Essex • 21 June 2011

2. The problem: “market failure”in the delivery of NGA services Households75,200 Population181,400 Business premises5,320 Total premises80,520 % LLU availability72.1% % 21CN activated `19.3% % in cable postcodes54.8% % with 2Mbps or better85.6% NGA probability end 201561% INDEX rank245/407

3. Colchester’s Digital Strategy approach • Correcting for “market failure” in suburban, village and rural areas through focusing on attracting additional investment into the Town Centre first by • Leveraging our Town Centre CCTV network assets to deliver an urban WiFi deployment and • Promoting Colchester and the Borough to the ICT industry as a “central place” economically in the Region and an investible proposition

4. Commercial engagement with the industry • Previous CBC activity has generated significant market interest from the telecommunications industry in Colchester. Sixteen companies expressed an interest in delivering services in urban and rural areas by either cable, fibre and/or wireless technology. • Each of the companies was invited to Colchester to undertake a presentation and to outline how they could support the delivery of our Digital Strategy. • A 2-stage evaluation process but not procurement exercise followed and we are now about to work with several firms who are looking to engage with collaboratively to realise our strategy

5. What we are doing • Developing an NGA infrastructure build-out across the Borough using a hybrid (wireless and fibre) solution • 1) Digital Wireless Town – digital platform which gives mobile access to web data and services (revenue streams from advertising, media sponsorship and wayleaves). • 2) High speed Urban and Business Broadband – including the deployment of the CCTV ducting using fibre and wireless (revenue stream from concession use of asset). • 3) Rural Broadband – delivering wireless broadband (minimum 20Mbps).

6. Colchester Town Centre initial Wi-Fi coverage

7. Applications • Address social inclusion and community engagement through free access to a “walled garden” portal containing council content and information. • Explore how this digital platform could social and digital inclusion which could include Jobseekers, Housing, CAB etc • Support inward investment with the development of local digital SME's who can exploit the town centre digital platform (applications, software design) and wider network  • Support retailers in the town centre – promote Colchester as a digital destination. Deliver a platform for retailers to interact with consumers, advertise and promote via the web. • Commercial opportunities through advertising - promoting attractions and events (eg Mercury Theatre, FirstSite,etc.). • Create a platform to support Colchester’s e-Tourism Strategy and Profile • Platform available for potential future use by the public sector in supporting the delivery of public services (test bed for innovation)

8. Next Steps and Timetable • July: Presentation of Digital Strategy to the Cabinet for approval • July: Engagement with preferred partners • End July 2011 – Proposed Design Wireless Digital Town • End August 2011 – Concession Agreements for use of council assets to be completed (lease/license to be agreed between parties) • End September 2011 commencement deployment (Digital Wireless Town) • October 2011 Wireless Town to go live • Rural broadband deployment to commence October 2011