£1 million given for ‘ultra-fast’ 10Gbs broadband

Out with the Old, In with the New

If such projects are to be worth considering, then there is absolutely no choice but to drop older incompatible technologies running currently over Copper and to consolidate existing compatible technologies.

To make such an enterprise successful, to allow for a network to be built quickly, there needs to be a a singular standard managed by a singular entity.

I would suggest that the best way for any project involving such a radical upgrade would be for there to be the formation of a new independant body separate from existing Telecommunications and Entertainment companies. Such a body would be initially co-funded by both the government and interested companies but would not be "Owned" by the government or by "Shareholders" Initial Funding would offset subsequent charges. Such a Company would be considered a Utility but would not be regionalised, nor would operators/staff of such a Utility be allowed to receive Bonuses for doing their job.

This independant body would be responsible for building a national backbone, regional inphrastructure, and "Fibre Connection Into the Home". End Users would rent this Fibre Connection directly from the independant body which would levy a non-profit charge which initially would be fairly high to offset the development costs but would subsequently drop to a minimal level high enough to cover the cost of maintenance, expansion and development of new technologies.

BT, Virgin, BBC, Sky, Vodaphone, 3, O2, T-mobile to name the major players in the UK would, pay for the privilidge of providing services over this network, perhaps by buying bandwidth and PetaBytes of data and would recharge these costs to consumers as part of the services they would provide.

Independant companies and public/private bodies including the Government, Councils, Military, Public Bodies - Police/Fire/NHS/Schools - would be able to establish independant network service over the inphrastructure.

Mobile Network would be able to use the network to carry voice/data/3g/4g services from antenna

The presence of a single network (with built in robust multiple redundancies to cope with peaks of use, growth and outages such as damaged cables allowing for 100% continued service with substantial failures or sabotage)

The independant body would not be allowed to sell services over the network, only the rental of a line, similarly the "Service Providers" would not be allowed to charge line rental or connection charges, only a time/volume based charge for each service or group of services.

BT/Virgin Telephone Lines (some 40-70 years old), Local Loop Cabinets, Exchanges, and other equipment where not capable of operating over an independant fibre network would not be needed and would have to be decomissioned.

For me this would be the most cost effective and competative method of introducing a radical new network. Since the network is not owned by any service provider and charges for the physical connection directly to the end-user all end-users would pay the same charge for a line. Service Providers including those who formerly operated their own networks would be able to compete on an even playing field.

Any company would be able to provide Fixed/Mobile Voice Services, and it would in essence be possible to introduce PicoCell Devices allowing Mobile phones to act as Fixed phones from home but perhaps using the same number/account as when mobile.

Video Conferencing Services as an extension of 3/4g Mobile service would be possible with improved quality, coverage and reduced cost.

Data Services would be possible by using an allocated section of bandwidth, providing budget data connections as well as Ultra Hi speed connections

Entertainment services including TV/Cable/Satellite services would be available over the network without the requirement to pay for more than a single decoder perhaps converting proprietory technologies such as Cable/Satellite signals into a HiDef Freeview/Sat Type signal within the house to allow multiple tuners to be used and access to multiple channels concurrently. This would allow for such technologies to be easily distributed throughout the house using Gigabit Wired or WiFi/WiMax wireless technologies.

It would be possible to change the metric with which such services are provided, separately and collectively allowing for a greater flexibility in billing services and the manner in which they are provided and used. For example perhaps allowing a Video Conference to be transfered between a 3/4g mobile handset a work based station and a home based station without interrupting the call or the need to levy 30 different charges or 3 different rates for one call, by virtue of the changes in medium and transit of the call.

All it takes is one person to take charge and say this is the way it is to be done, we will adopt the most flexible and least costly most upgradeable long term route where we will provide 22nd Century type facilities now rather than screwing the last penny out of 20th century technologies and the customers and providers will be offering services on an even field.

By Hitman101 on Tuesday May 19