Open Access Network Project Examples

Addressing market failures

Government desire to fulfil consumer and business need for broadband service in areas where it is not economical for telecoms operators to deploy such service causes worldwide debate. Government subsidised infrastructure fuels arguments about unfair competition and arguably further removes incentive for any alternative deployment.

In many cities and regions around the world, including deployments in North Wales and between Scotland and England, the concept of the "Open Access Network" has found favour as it seems to support the creation of the infrastructure necessary to address the core issue, whilst equitably meeting the needs of potential service providers.

Vtesse Networks are particularly well positioned to provide these new public infrastructures without compromising competition. Our clear focus on the "optical layer" leaves the way clear for competing service providers to purchase bandwidth from the "Service manager" (who may be the Local Authority itself, or its chosen agent - potentially Vtesse) on a level playing field in order to deliver openly competitive higher level services from service aggregation points on the network. Such aggregation points (PoPs) might be used for Fibre To The Home, Fibre To The Curb (VDSL), Fibre to the exchange (ADSL & SDSL) or mobile, WiFi or WiMAX wireless service delivery.

In the open access model, the initiating local authority provides the initial funding, then through a neutral third party operator, provides wholesale priced (optical) networking services that allow cost recovery of initial investment over time. These optical networking services will typically provide connectivity between major communications hubs (cities) and key locations in the area to be served (which many be wireless or wireline aggregation points).