Requirement
Herefordshire Council’s (HC) initial requirement was to meet – or exceed – central government (DfES) targets for minimum schools broadband connectivity with a network capable of supporting advancing learning applications. However, HC resolved to incorporate other sites within its plans in order to realise economies of scales, and intended to locate a sufficiently capable solution within an affordable budget.
Challenges
The unique human and physical geography of Herefordshire meant that one common approach for establishing connectivity for all the sites in question would not be feasible. The successful provider would need to deliver an overall solution encompassing a variety of access technologies appropriate to each specific site, yet within the tight restrictions of the available project budget.
Solution
Updata delivered symmetrical and QoS-enabled broadband connectivity to a total of 107 public locations including libraries, leisure facilities, community centres, council offices and schools. By ‘unbundling’ six local telephone exchanges, these 107 sites are connected at speeds of between 2 and 20 Mbps using a blend of SHDSL and fibre.