MORE DEVOLUTION THAN REVOLUTION!
Imtech Telecom is working with regional networks throughout Europe to help bridge the rural digital divide.
Scotland has little spare capacity for internet traffic. Why? Because its infrastructure grew organically and is now largely dependent on London. Even when the server is in Scotland, the traffic comes via the capital, a process which is expensive and failure prone.
The digital divide? It sounds more like devolution, not revolution!
Not so, says Phil Sykes, Technical Consultant, Imtech Telecom. “It’s not about North versus South, it’s about urban and rural populations. Quite simply, densely populated towns give ISPs the best return on a significant capacity investment.”
Most UK broadband consumers connect through the BT Wholesale Service IPStream. Being distance independent, it gives even rural users access to cost-effective basic broadband. But IPStream will struggle with tomorrow’s bandwidth-hungry
new services, like Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) or Video-on-Demand.
Alternatives to IPStream – such as local loop unbundling or cable build-out – could work, but they are only economically viable in major population centres.
The same is true of Wi-fi and one-off satellite solutions. There’s a real possibility Scotland and rural areas will miss out as infrastructure investment goes on England’s densely populated urban areas.
And, while BT is adding capacity as part of its 21st Century Network (21CN), many areas of Scotland won’t get 21CN until 2011, warns Sykes.
However, there is salvation at hand.ISPs could optimise their existing traffic, through new technology such as Ellacoya’s IP Service Control System.
The same is true of Wi-fi and one-off satellite solutions. There’s a real possibility Scotland and rural areas will miss out as infrastructure investment goes on England’s densely populated urban areas.
And, while BT is adding capacity as part of its 21st Century Network (21CN), many areas of Scotland won’t get 21CN until 2011, warns Sykes.
However, there is salvation at hand.ISPs could optimise their existing traffic, through new technology such as Ellacoya’s IP Service Control System.
The system classifies and prioritises network bandwidth, stabilises usage and reserves bandwidth for the applications that need it.
Some commercial service providers object to public funds being used to compete with private investment. The best compromise, says Sykes, is public-private partnerships and not-for-profit regional networks that operate on a commercial basis.
Scotland’s government must consider whether BT’s 21CN investment plans will deliver the infrastructure needed for the 21st century internet and act accordingly.
Some commercial service providers object to public funds being used to compete with private investment. The best compromise, says Sykes, is public-private partnerships and not-for-profit regional networks that operate on a commercial basis.
Scotland’s government must consider whether BT’s 21CN investment plans will deliver the infrastructure needed for the 21st century internet and act accordingly.
Phil Sykes,
Technical Consultant Imtech Telecom UK
Technical Consultant Imtech Telecom UK