TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

the project

the objective

the strategy

Chapter 2

local government

all state bodies

economic change

Chapter 3

speeds

take-up

co-operation

DIGITAL IRELAND Chapter ONE

A group of like minded identities (companies and individuals) have come together to review how Optical Fibre could penetrate deeper into the Access Network, to provide real Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connectivity.

Preliminary discussions have taken place with interested parties such as County Councils, Service Providers, Utilities to determine if a sharing of assets such as ducts and poles were possible.

A town of 7500 homes has been selected which has an existing Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) to carry out a `Feasibility Study`.

State of the art software will be employed to Design and Engineer an Optical Fibre Network which will also have the capability to `Project Manage the installation & Customer Connection.

The objective will be to come up with the most cost effective price for the Fibre installation by reducing the amount of Civil works coupled with innovative cost effective Fibre products and installation techniques.

This Consortium has come together out of real concern that as a country we have no defined Next Generation Access Policy.

We are in danger of being excluded from the `Digital Revolution` taking place across Europe at this time. Widespread access to `Fast Efficient Broadband` will be a real economic driver and universal access a central factor in ensuring equality of opportunity. A `Digital Strategy` encompassing infrastructure development will stimulate remote working, tourism, health care, education, employment, e-business, in particular rural business. Getting the current Service Providers to work together, by sharing assets and in particular the state agencies, who are rich in assets, to develop an open access policy. By sharing assets, Fibre to the Home / Business can be a reality, with efficient Design Engineering and Project Management.

Broadband inclusion was largely driven by the on line gaming and entertainment industries, but the demand for other uses encompassing e-business techniques coupled with the knowledge base which can be derived from an internet connection is astounding. Social benefits across the Community, in particular for education, health, social inclusion and equality of opportunity for the community – Economists call these `Positive Externalities`.

Broadband speeds are expected to double every 20 months and by 64 times in the next decade. The benefit of Broadband adoption is not just to the individual user, but to other users and Society as a whole.

DIGITAL INCLUSION Chapter two

Until every home is connected, Local Authorities will be obliged to provide Fast Internet access in supportive environments such as libraries, waiting rooms and community centres to ensure universal access for the local community. Access to a Digital Infrastructure to keep pace with this development is necessary. Intervention may will be required as telecom companies with little capital budgets will be selective in their network roll out strategies. Open access to Back Haul provision would extend the market for a roll out of Mobile & Fixed Broadband take up. The Digital Revolution is here. ????? How can we as a country keep pace with Global developments? We have to adopt a policy of drawing expertise from Competing Interests, who must now COLLABORATE to compete on a WIDER BASIS.

Innovation is required from Government, State Utilities, Culture Groups, Education, Health & Commerce. Internet Access is now a necessity in areas such as Healthcare (remote consultation) 21^st Century Information Networks – are Critical for Economic Prosperity Social Inclusion. We must prepare for a period of change and enter the `Groundswell` taking place on a global scale at this time. Employers and young people will move away from communities that cannot offer Digital Inclusion Broadband is the Fuel for Innovation which will be the catalyst for economic change.

Our National Broadband Strategy should have a minimum speed of 100Mbits, using fibre connectivity, to target 60% of the population by say 2020. Example of Population Density figures from European FTTH forums. 10,000 people / Km are classed as `High Density` areas 1,000 people / Km are classed as `Low Density` and 70 people /Km should eventually have access to fibre connectivity, which will be driven by local community groups. We will have achieved close to 90% coverage at this point with the remaining areas covered by Wireless Technologies. Fibre is a necessary technology required to underpin Next Generation access at a National scale, fibre laid now has an expected life span of 30 years + Prepare for a period of change. It will be essential to open up dialog and cooperation between Service Providers large and small. Develop a wholesale market to allow competition and innovation. Take an overview of Ireland’s fibre backhaul and remove all fiscal and regulatory obstacles.

by:

Jim Fagan

Cetag Systems Ltd

Roy Anderson

Cablecom Ltd

Denis Cronin

Cro-Bar Ltd.

Sean Kelly

Consultant

A.Hak (Dutch)

Consultant Partner

LG/LS (Dutch

Consultant Partner