Broadband Reach Project Update - 28 November 2008
We are pleased to advise you that delivery of the Reach project is now well underway and many registrants have already signed up to receive a service. Don't be alarmed if you registered but haven't been contacted as yet, Avanti will be in touch soon.
To date 491 premises have been activated to receive broadband and feedback has been very positive with individuals praising the service they are experiencing. Deployment is building momentum and we expect to see more connections being made every week. This site will be updated fortnightly to reflect these figures.
There have been some teething problems with equipment failing to withstand the weather conditions on the isles but this has now been resolved and additional securing devices used. If you were affected by this and lost service for more than 48 hours, please contact the Avanti Customer Service team to claim a credit for reimbursement of fees paid for that period.
Late Registrants
If you are unable to get broadband due to your distance from the exchange but were not aware of the Government's project until after the cut off date for registrations (31st May 2008), we can add you to our registrations list. Please contact the Project Manager (Helen Foster) by email: Helen.foster@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by post (write to: Scottish Government, Telecoms Policy Unit, Meridian Court (2nd Floor).5 Cadogan Street, Glasgow G2 6AT) to submit your details. Please provide your name, full postal address and telephone number & email address (if available).
We must stress that at this stage, we cannot make a commitment or promise to deliver broadband to any late registrant as it depends on the funds available, and our priority is for delivery to the eligible people who registered before the cut off date. We will however, do the best we can to make the available funding go as far as possible.
Broadband Reach Contract - 26 June 2008
We are pleased to announce that the Scottish Government today signed a £3.3M contract to deliver an affordable broadband service to those households and businesses that registered (and were verified) as being out of reach of the technology. Following a competitive open procurement, the selected supplier is Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of AIM listed Avanti Communications Group Plc). Avanti Communications aims to utilise a mix of technologies, including satellite and wireless, to deliver a broadband solution appropriate to the location and density of those that have made themselves known to the Scottish Government.
Over 3,800 premises spread across numerous areas in Scotland are included in this contract. Rollout of services will start in July and be completed by May 2009 at the latest.
Avanti Communications are now writing to all verified registrants to outline the programme. Further details are also available from their website www.avantiplc.com/scotland, which will also be updated as delivery progresses. A brief Q&A is available below. If you require more details however, please contact Avanti Communications on 020 7749 8100. Thank you.
I registered - will I be offered a broadband service?
Yes. This contract is planning to deliver to those eligible premises which could not access broadband at all and which were registered with us by the end of May 2008.
When will I get a service?
Avanti Communications will start delivering services from July and will complete rollout within a year. Given the wide geography and the number of premises to be individually covered with solutions, delivery will be phased across that timeframe.
Avanti Communications will be in touch with individuals to offer the service and tell them about the programme for installation of services in their area. If individuals sign up for broadband, Avanti will liaise with them to arrange installation at a mutually convenient time.
How much is the service?
The price for a basic 512/256Kbps broadband package is £23.50 (inc VAT) per month. There is no installation/set up cost at all. Higher bandwidths and alternative packages, including business packages, are available at extra cost. For more detail, please see the product sheet on http://www.avantiplc.com/scotland/scottish_broadband2.htm
Can I buy broadband services from any Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
Avanti Communications offer a wholesale services, which are available if other ISPs wish to offer services using the Avanti networks. At the moment we are not aware of any other ISP that has made use of this opportunity.
What technology will be used? Will I be given a satellite dish?
This will depend on the location but it will involve installing either a satellite dish or a small wireless antenna on the premise to receive the broadband service. Avanti Communications will consider solutions largely driven by the number of subscribers in an area, but broadly the solutions will be as follows (but taking into account local topography and other issues):
a) Less than 4 eligible subscribers in an area - direct, individual satellite dishes
b) Between 4-29 eligible subscribers in an area - wi-fi antennae on premises linked to a network with a satellite connection to the internet
c) 30 or more eligible subscribers in an area - radio wireless antennae on premises, linked to a network which connects to the internet via a DSL landline.
Where do I get more details about this service?
More information and updates will be available from www.avantiplc.com/scotland or 020 7749 8100.
Why were Avanti Communications chosen as the supplier?After full evaluation, Avanti Communications had the best bid to meet the requirements of our procurement, offering an affordable broadband solution to all verified registrants within our available budget.