Affordable Broadband Connectivity: Different Approaches for Different R&E Needs

• EDUCAUSE Presentation• 11/05/2003• 11:40AM to 12:30AM• Room 204C• Presenters: Gary Augustson, Erv Blythe, Steve

Corbato, Tim Lance, Garret Sern• www.educause.edu/netatedu/groups/pricing/

Copyright Erv Blythe 2003. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.

The Virginia Tech eCorridors’s ProgramProblem Description:

Anyone, any community, any region that does not have the capacity

at reasonable cost to be a producer, a provider,

of large-scale, high volume information and servicesto the networked world

has a severe disadvantage in our global, networked economy.

The Virginia Tech eCorridors’s Program Vision:

It is not sufficient to chase what other regions, dominant in this 21st century economy, have today.

Regions must demand a plan that looks ahead, that with calculated risk, gives our regions and communities an advantage in our networked world.

Andy Grove, CEO of Intel: “The ability of end users to pull technology through the telecommunications industry structure is virtually non-existent.” “This industry has proven itself incapable or unwilling to adopt to the needs of mass deployment of broadband technologies.”

What is “true” Broadband?

• TECHNET (a technology industry advocacy group): Advocates 100 Mbps broadband to 100 million United States households by 2008

• CENIC (consortium of major research and education entities in California): Developing feasibility plan for deployment of 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps) broadband to all Californians by 2010

• Garner Dataquest: Defines broadband as 10 Mbps

Strategic Technology Infrastructure for Regional Competitiveness in the Network Economy

Virginia Tech’s eCorridors Program

A series of in-depth studies providing a roadmap for revitalization through investment in advanced network infrastructure.

Volume 1 Rationale, Environment and Strategic Considerations.

Volume 2Connecting the Regional Infrastructure to National and International Networks

Volume 3A Fiber Optic Infrastructure Design for Southside and Southwest Virginia

Volume 4 Fiber Optic Infrastructure Design Guide

Volume 5 Financial Feasibility and Investment Rationale

Volume 6 Leveraging Advanced Optical and Ethernet Technologies

Volume 7 Speculative and Alternative Technologies

Volumes 8-11Community, Demographics, Applications and Anchor Tenants

http://www.ecorridors.vt.edu

A University Putting Knowledge to Work

Network Progression Model

Electrical Optical

Electrical toOptical Conversion

Circuit switchesPacket switchesIP RoutersATM

Cost: >$50 per mile per Mbps

SONETPacket over

SONET

Today: Point-to-point lambda’s, Packet switching

Cost: <10 cents per mile per Mbps

Future: Lambda switchingOptical packet switching

ImbeddedTelecom

EmergingUser ControlledOptical Network

The Geodesic Network Mesh

1. Low Cost Fiber Mesh • MINIMUM cost fiber spans between communities.• Reliability through diversity.• Multiple fibers, small portion allocated to open access network, some available for lease, economic development use.• MSAPs and Fiber Mesh owned and operated by “provider neutral” entity. Non-profit or new for-profit model.

2. Gigabit Open Access Network • Utilize some fiber to fund gigabit next generation internet overlay.• NGI technology and protocols (IPv6, multicast, QoS)• Low cost optical Ethernet.

MSAP

MSAP

MSAP

3. MSAPs distributed in communities and at large sites for service delivery and local switching, exchange, co-location. Fund highly leveraged last/first mile technology demonstrations.

Development Strategy

• Do not bypass any community • Must prioritize initial deployment by ROI• Make bulk of investment in “future proof” (20 to

30 year life cycle) infrastructure• Make bulk of investment in financially self-

sustaining elements of the infrastructure • Build from the top down:

• Connection to Strategic National Interconnect Points• Inter-County/City fiber optic infrastructure• Intra-County/City fiber optic infrastructure

• Obtain grant funds and local investment for “WAN” and last-mile demonstrations

New JerseyNew JerseyNew JerseyNew JerseyNew JerseyNew JerseyNew JerseyNew JerseyNew JerseyOhioOhioOhioOhioOhioOhioOhioOhioOhio

PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania

DelawareDelawareDelawareDelawareDelawareDelawareDelawareDelawareDelaware

MarylandMarylandMarylandMarylandMarylandMarylandMarylandMarylandMaryland

West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest VirginiaWest VirginiaWest VirginiaWest VirginiaWest VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia

KentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentuckyKentucky

North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennesseeTennessee

District Of ColumbiaDistrict Of ColumbiaDistrict Of ColumbiaDistrict Of ColumbiaDistrict Of ColumbiaDistrict Of ColumbiaDistrict Of ColumbiaDistrict Of ColumbiaDistrict Of Columbia

JonesvilleJonesvilleJonesvilleJonesvilleJonesvilleJonesvilleJonesvilleJonesvilleJonesville

Norton CityNorton CityNorton CityNorton CityNorton CityNorton CityNorton CityNorton CityNorton City

ClintwoodClintwoodClintwoodClintwoodClintwoodClintwoodClintwoodClintwoodClintwood

GrundyGrundyGrundyGrundyGrundyGrundyGrundyGrundyGrundy

TazewellTazewellTazewellTazewellTazewellTazewellTazewellTazewellTazewell

LebanonLebanonLebanonLebanonLebanonLebanonLebanonLebanonLebanon

Gate CityGate CityGate CityGate CityGate CityGate CityGate CityGate CityGate City BristolBristolBristolBristolBristolBristolBristolBristolBristol

AbingdonAbingdonAbingdonAbingdonAbingdonAbingdonAbingdonAbingdonAbingdon

MarionMarionMarionMarionMarionMarionMarionMarionMarion

IndependenceIndependenceIndependenceIndependenceIndependenceIndependenceIndependenceIndependenceIndependenceGalax CityGalax CityGalax CityGalax CityGalax CityGalax CityGalax CityGalax CityGalax City

WythevilleWythevilleWythevilleWythevilleWythevilleWythevilleWythevilleWythevilleWytheville

HillsvilleHillsvilleHillsvilleHillsvilleHillsvilleHillsvilleHillsvilleHillsvilleHillsville

StuartStuartStuartStuartStuartStuartStuartStuartStuart

FloydFloydFloydFloydFloydFloydFloydFloydFloyd

Rocky MountRocky MountRocky MountRocky MountRocky MountRocky MountRocky MountRocky MountRocky Mount

MartinsvilleMartinsvilleMartinsvilleMartinsvilleMartinsvilleMartinsvilleMartinsvilleMartinsvilleMartinsville

BedfordBedfordBedfordBedfordBedfordBedfordBedfordBedfordBedfordLynchburgLynchburgLynchburgLynchburgLynchburgLynchburgLynchburgLynchburgLynchburgAppomattoxAppomattoxAppomattoxAppomattoxAppomattoxAppomattoxAppomattoxAppomattoxAppomattox

ChathamChathamChathamChathamChathamChathamChathamChathamChatham

DanvilleDanvilleDanvilleDanvilleDanvilleDanvilleDanvilleDanvilleDanville

South BostonSouth BostonSouth BostonSouth BostonSouth BostonSouth BostonSouth BostonSouth BostonSouth Boston

Charlotte Court HouseCharlotte Court HouseCharlotte Court HouseCharlotte Court HouseCharlotte Court HouseCharlotte Court HouseCharlotte Court HouseCharlotte Court HouseCharlotte Court House

FarmvilleFarmvilleFarmvilleFarmvilleFarmvilleFarmvilleFarmvilleFarmvilleFarmville

BoydtonBoydtonBoydtonBoydtonBoydtonBoydtonBoydtonBoydtonBoydton

LawrencevilleLawrencevilleLawrencevilleLawrencevilleLawrencevilleLawrencevilleLawrencevilleLawrencevilleLawrencevilleEmporiaEmporiaEmporiaEmporiaEmporiaEmporiaEmporiaEmporiaEmporia

BlandBlandBlandBlandBlandBlandBlandBlandBland

RustburgRustburgRustburgRustburgRustburgRustburgRustburgRustburgRustburg

BuckinghamBuckinghamBuckinghamBuckinghamBuckinghamBuckinghamBuckinghamBuckinghamBuckinghamCumberlandCumberlandCumberlandCumberlandCumberlandCumberlandCumberlandCumberlandCumberland

Amelia Court HouseAmelia Court HouseAmelia Court HouseAmelia Court HouseAmelia Court HouseAmelia Court HouseAmelia Court HouseAmelia Court HouseAmelia Court House

NottowayNottowayNottowayNottowayNottowayNottowayNottowayNottowayNottoway

LunenburgLunenburgLunenburgLunenburgLunenburgLunenburgLunenburgLunenburgLunenburg

DinwiddieDinwiddieDinwiddieDinwiddieDinwiddieDinwiddieDinwiddieDinwiddieDinwiddie

SussexSussexSussexSussexSussexSussexSussexSussexSussexWiseWiseWiseWiseWiseWiseWiseWiseWise

UVAUVAUVAUVAUVAUVAUVAUVAUVA

VTVTVTVTVTVTVTVTVT

RichmondRichmondRichmondRichmondRichmondRichmondRichmondRichmondRichmond

~ 3 km

DistributionCross-connectPoint (DCP)

~ 3 km

SubscriberDistribution Terminal

(SDT)

Intermediate SplicePoint (ISP)

2/4 fibers / home

Intermediate SplicePoint (ISP)

SubscriberDistribution Terminal

(SDT)

SubscriberDistribution Terminal

(SDT)

SubscriberDistribution Terminal

(SDT)

SubscriberDistribution Terminal

(SDT)

Fibers to the premiseterminate in a

Subscriber NetworkInterface Terminal

(SNIT)

2/4 fibers per home

House House House

House House House

~ 5

0 m

~ 200 m

2/4 fibers per home

House House House

House House House

~ 5

0 m

~ 200 m

Building 3

Building 4

Building 1

100 m6 fibers / building

Building 2Building 3

Building 4

Building 1

100 m

6 fibers / building

Building 2

~ 5 km

HIT AC HI

DistributionCross-connect

Point (DCP)

H IT AC HI

MDU

MDU

MD

U

MD

U

Hospital

6 fibers / MDU

~ 200 m

Suburbanhome Suburban

home

Suburbanhome

SCHOOL

~ 200 m

Feeder Cable

Distribution Cable

Drop Cable

Metro Backbone

To Intra/Inter CountyBackbone

Main DistributionCross-connect Point

(MDCP)

SubscriberDistribution Terminal

(SDT)

Intermediate SplicePoint (ISP)

~ 1 km

~ 1 km

~ 1 km

Critical Success Factors

• A Regional Vision • The Right Implementing Entity• The Right People• Critical Mass of Anchor Tenants• Long-term commitment of 100% of the

Regions’ Counties and Cities• Leverage Community Investments• Keep project private sector based

Critical Success Factors

• Understand the implications of the phrases:• “not sufficient to chase other regions” • “plan that looks ahead”• “with calculated risk” • “that gives competitive advantage” • “resulting in - advantageous cost to be a

producer”

• If you are not committed to these ideas, DO NOT FOLLOW THIS COURSE

If we don’t have a diverse fiber path serving our facility within two years we’ll seriously have to consider leaving. - Eastman, largest employer in SW Va region

All else aside, we will not locate a new data center there because you don’t have the right mix of fiber and providers. - AOL to the City of Danville

“Unfortunately, … rural communities are still isolated from high-speed access … making it difficult for these communities to compete for businesses that require high bandwidth services.” - from Verizon report March 2002

The Premise

“Any person, organization, community, or region that does not have the capacity at reasonable cost to be a producer of high volume information and services to the networked world has a severe disadvantage in the global, networked economy.”

The Problem

Accessible fiber and network infrastructure is now as critical as water, sewer, and roads for community health yet is not available within most communities. The downturn in the communications sector does not reduce this requirement but does significantly increase the challenge to these communities.

The Approach

Channel investment and promote new business models to facilitate wide scale deployment of accessible, advanced technologies that can radically alter the economics of regional and community communications capability. Work with stakeholders, public and private, to overcome obstacles, aggregate demand, stimulate investment, and develop incentives for private sector engagement.

RESEARCH PROTOTYPE

COMMERCIALCOMMODITY

VirginiaTech

A University Putting Knowledge to WORK

Erv BlytheVirginia Tech

Vice President, Information Technologyblythe@vt.edu

Brenda NeidighDirector, eCorridors Program, Virginia Tech

bneidigh@vt.eduwww.ecorridors.vt.edu