Broadband Communities

NOV-DEC 2013

BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.

Issue link: https://bbcmag.epubxp.com/i/232134

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 89 of 134

launched in July 2013 at West Virginia University. West Virginia University partnered with AIR.U, the Advanced Internet Regions consortium (a project that has its own roots in the Gig.U efort and in which Gig.U is a founding member), to transform the TV white space frequencies left empty when television stations moved to digital broadcasting into muchneeded connectivity for students and the surrounding community. Te initial phase of the network provides free public Wi-Fi access for students and faculty at the platforms for Public Rapid Transit, a 73-car tram system that transports more than 15,000 riders daily. Te University of New Hampshire is also working on a similar white spaces test bed project. On November 14, the team coordinating the AIR.U project announced a "Quick Start" program to enable all AIR.U participating institutions to run projects similar to the West Virginia project. GOOGLE FIBER AND OTHER NEW ENTRANTS Google has announced gigabit network projects in Kansas City, Austin and Provo. Tough we have no knowledge of Google's plans for expanding beyond those three communities, Google has suggested that it has found a way that such projects can be "money makers." Google is not the only nonincumbent service provider to ofer world-leading networks. Sonic.net ofers services to several communities in Northern California and just announced it would be ofering gigabit service in Santa Rosa. Mississippi-based C Spire recently announced the fnalists in its contest to build a gigabit network. A number of communities have charted their own paths to network upgrades. In contrast with the Gig.U and Google Fiber projects, several of these projects are premised on municipally owned operations. Chattanooga has a gigabit service ofered by the municipally owned electric utility. Lafayette, La.; Longmont, Colo.; and Wilson, N.C., involve municipal operations. In addition, a number of small communities have been able to build fber-to-the-home networks. Some of these projects, because they are in highcost areas, are supported by federal Universal Service funds. Te Institute for Local Self-Reliance, which provides the most extensive resources about such eforts, has a map that identifes more than 40 communities in 13 states that have publicly owned networks ofering gigabit services, and the Fiber to the Home Council has compiled a list of 22 known gigabit fber-to-thehome providers. Recently, other communities have looked to build out gigabit networks by focusing on high-demand areas, generally involving universities, such as the St. Louis efort adjacent to Washington University. Other communities, including Missoula, Mont., and Baltimore, have hired consultants to lay out options for obtaining next-generation networks. Te city of Los Angeles just announced a request for proposals to bring the city both a gigabit network and free Wi-Fi service. INCUMBENT PROVIDERS Initially, incumbent ISPs responded to eforts to build gigabit networks by suggesting that there was no demand for such networks. Recently, however, incumbents have looked more favorably on such networks. CenturyLink announced projects in sections of Omaha and Las Vegas, with indications that it is considering upgrading other networks. Time Warner Cable announced its intention to respond to the RFP in North Carolina and is improving its oferings in Kansas City and Austin in response to Google Fiber's oferings. Comcast has similarly responded to Google's eforts in Provo. AT&T; announced a plan to ofer a gigabit service in Austin and suggested it would ofer the service in other communities as well. Randall Stephenson, AT&T;'s CEO, recently noted two reasons the company is looking more seriously at fber-to- NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | www.broadbandcommunities.com the-premises upgrades. First, he said, "Cities and municipalities are beginning to hold up their hands and say we would like you come in and invest. And they're actually beginning to accommodate and tailor terms and conditions that make it feasible and attractive for us to invest. Tat being the case, you will see us do more and more cities around the country. I fully expect that to happen." Second, "Te cost dynamics for deploying fber have radically changed. And it's just the interfaces at the homes, the wiring requirements, how you get it dropped to a pole and splice it. It's just totally changed the cost dynamics of deploying fber." INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS Other countries have been leading the charge with gigabit-to-the-home networks. Prior to the recent round of deployments in the United States, gigabit fber networks were deployed in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Sweden. More recently, projects have been announced in Taiwan; in Vancouver, Canada; in Israel – where gigabit connectivity will be provided to the entire country – and in New Zealand, where 50 towns registered to compete in a contest for gigabit service. Te British fber provider CityFibre announced the frst partnership, with the city of Peterborough, as an initial step in its "vision of creating gigabit cities throughout the U.K." KEY STRATEGIES Te experiences of gigabit communities, especially Gig.U communities, highlight three strategies that all communities could, and in our view should, develop to stimulate investments in better networks. Asset use and improvement. Assets – including rights-of-way, access to ducts and conduit, building access and the location of existing fber assets – and the availability to potential providers of information about assets afect deployment costs. Every city has assets that, if used more efciently or improved, could lower the cost of deploying next-generation networks. | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | 83

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Broadband Communities - NOV-DEC 2013