[ILUG] Government Tender to provide rural broadband coverage

[Michael Watterson]

David Howe wrote:
> It was announced this week that 3 have been awarded a contract to provide
> broadband coverage to 30% of the Irish land mass using 3G/HDSPA.
>
> Given the recent experience of linux users with 3G modems I would like to
> get some views on the suitability of the solution considering the
> alternatives such as LMDS, Wimax, fibre, ADSL/DSL.
>
>   
Any of the technologies can be presented via ethernet based 
Router/Firewall rather than a "modem" needing specific drivers.

fibre = 2 Billion for universal access, but worth it.
ADSL/DSL is not good enough for IPTV and even using ADSL2+ or VDSL 
speeds drop rapidly beyond 1.5km
Ireland would need about 8 times as many exchanges. It's a technology 
that is limited and at saturation.
LTE needs 60MHz + 60MHz spectrum which is not available at present.
MMDS in Ireland is on WiMax/LTE spectrum.

Two kinds of WiMax, Fixed and Mobile.
Mobile is only slightly better than 3G/HSDPA, over hyped, really Midband 
like HSDPA.
Fixed Wimax is used already. Better capacity same speed as some older 
Fixed Wireless.
Wireless DOCSIS is best capacity, but mostly only suitable for Line Of 
Sight. (Digiweb Metro).

3G/HSDPA is an epic fail in meeting goals of NBS which are 10 lower than 
this 2004 report:
http://broadband.oireachtas.ie/
See this especially:
http://broadband.oireachtas.ie/Chapter02.htm

Fixed Wireless (Wimax or not, it doesn't matter) is the only cheaper 
method than Hybrid Fibre solutions. It can deliver NBS spec or indeed if 
more was spent about x4 better than NBS spec. Issue is availability of 
spectrum.

3G/HSDPA   can't remotely deliver EVER the NBS tender spec.

The NBS is flawed to as it ignores the 10% to 20% who can't get 
Broadband in already "covered" areas due to line fail, Wireless signal 
fail or other issue that can't be fixed..

It does not give ANY broadband coverage as 3G/HSDPA is not Broadband. If 
it did,  it would bring Ireland to 80% to 90% coverage.

> I am currently putting together a paper for the Green Party Science &
> Technology policy group which aims to put a science based set of policies
> before the green party leadership ( a bit late for rural BB by the sound
> of t).  By the way I am doing this on a voluntary basis.
>   
Read the Posts.
> I have written to the party on the advantages of FOSS in government and
> education. Whether this all falls on deaf ears will have to be seen. FOSS
> seems to be an anathema to civil servants who decide on tenders and
> technologies.
>
> Any feedback is welcome.
>
> Regards,
>
> David
>
>   

*Read these

*http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055306977
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055427127
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1147
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055468698
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055442502
http://irelandoffline.org/

-- 
Mike