Members’ Library Service Request Form Date of Document 31/10/14 Originator Alan Cruickshank Originator’s Ref (if any) Document Title East Lothian Next Generation Internet Connectivity Strategy Please indicate if access to the document is to be “unrestricted” or “restricted”, with regard to the terms of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985. Unrestricted Restricted If the document is “restricted”, please state on what grounds (click on grey area for drop- down menu): For Publication Please indicate which committee this document should be recorded into (click on grey area for drop-down menu): Cabinet Additional information: Strategy for maximising Internet Connectivity across EL. The document also includes back ground information about current provision in EL, the National initiatives currently underway and their expected outcomes. Links to report to Cabinet 11/11/14. Authorised By Jim Lamond Designation Head of Council Resources Date 31/10/14 For Office Use Only: Library Reference 216/14 Date Received 31/10/14 Bulletin Nov14 East Lothian Next Generation Internet Connectivity Strategy EAST LOTHIAN COUNCIL Date: August 2014 Copyright © 2014 FarrPoint Ltd has produced the information contained herein for East Lothian Council. The ownership, use and disclosure of this information are subject to the Terms and Conditions contained in the contract between FarrPoint Ltd and East Lothian Council, under which it was prepared. Revision Description Author Checked Reviewed Authorised Date 1.0 Draft report JM AM AM JM 18/02/14 2.0 Final report JM AM AM JM 14/03/14 3.0 Final Updated report JM AAC 18/08/14 CONTENTS 1 Executive Summary .............................................................................................. 2 2 Background .......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 5 2.2 East Lothian - The Area ............................................................................................ 6 2.3 East Lothian - Major Towns ...................................................................................... 7 2.4 East Lothian - Rural Areas ....................................................................................... 8 2.5 East Lothian - Facts and Figures .............................................................................. 8 2.6 Key Documents ...................................................................................................... 10 2.7 Benefits of Broadband ............................................................................................ 14 2.8 Summary ................................................................................................................ 15 3 Current Telecoms Provision ............................................................................... 16 3.1 British Telecom....................................................................................................... 16 3.2 Lothian Broadband ................................................................................................. 18 3.3 Mobile Coverage .................................................................................................... 18 3.4 Haddington O2 WiFi ............................................................................................... 18 4 Broadband Initiatives .......................................................................................... 20 4.1 Infrastructure Action Plan ....................................................................................... 20 4.2 Community Broadband Scotland ............................................................................ 21 4.3 Mobile Infrastructure Project ................................................................................... 22 5 Step Change Programme likely outcomes .......................................................... 25 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 25 5.2 Step Change roll out ............................................................................................... 25 5.3 Basic Broadband Provision .................................................................................... 27 6 The Need for improved Internet Connectivity in East Lothian ............................. 28 6.1 Outcome of stakeholder meetings .......................................................................... 28 6.2 Surveys .................................................................................................................. 31 6.3 What is a usable speed? ........................................................................................ 32 7 Strategy for improving Internet connectivity in East Lothian ............................... 34 7.1 Overview ................................................................................................................ 34 7.2 Key areas of focus .................................................................................................. 34 Appendix A – Action Plan Appendix B – Technologies Appendix C – Technology Comparison ELC4D2V3.0 Page 1 of 39 August 2014 1 Executive Summary This document presents an overarching five year internet connectivity strategy for East Lothian that defines priorities to improve the provision of Internet connectivity across the East Lothian Council area. The strategy brings together input from a range of policies, strategic documents and initiatives both current and in development. The related action plan provides a clear link to the strategy and demonstrates how the proposed actions will move East Lothian towards its stated aspirations. Access to affordable broadband is regarded as a key priority for the Council and is in direct support of the Council Plan 2012-2017, Economic Development Strategy, Single Outcome Agreement and Digital Inclusion objectives. The Scottish Government Step Change programme aims to achieve 95% coverage of Next Generation Access (NGA) (i.e. availability to all/or part fibre based broadband infrastructure) in East Lothian by 2017, with all premises expected to achieve a minimum 2Mbps. Scottish Government has published maps of the deployment phasing based on the information available at contract signature with the supplier BT, to provide an indicative view of the phasing approach and anticipated NGA coverage. All information published by Scottish Government is subject to approval by BT, with data associated with the deployment plan considered to be in commercial confidence and subject to Non-Disclosure Agreements. This will be a phased deployment, with each phase achieving a contracted outcome in terms of number of premises passed and speed distribution. The postcodes to be served in each Phase has an outcome for East Lothian in terms of coverage and speed. Each deployment phase is subject to a 6-9 month survey stage which may impact the proposed deployment plans. Any proposed changes are discussed and agreed between BT and the Step Change Programme and managed through a Change Control process. Local Authorities have an important role to play in supporting the Step Change deployment programme in their respective regions through planning, roads and street works, press activity etc. The Council should receive notification from the Step Change programme team on live postcodes available for service as a result of successful deployment of a phase, and notice of cabinets/communities to be served following the survey stage. The Council should take an active interest in the programme at a strategic level, with an aim to ensuring that: (a) local priorities are considered in any decision that impacts the planned premises to be served in East Lothian and; (b) East Lothian achieves the same if not better outcome as to what was initially planned by BT. Close monitoring of the Step Change programme will also inform (as far as possible) the expected outcome for East Lothian. The market needs ELC4D2V3.0 Page 2 of 39 August 2014 clarity from a state aid perspective on areas where subsidy will be used to provide a Basic Broadband service (defined as a minimum 2Mbps) and Superfast Broadband service (defined as greater than 24Mbps). This information is essential in order to allow communities and potential suppliers to assess if the Step Change deployment will meet end user needs in terms of coverage, speed and timescales and to determine the viability of using public funds to serve an area that will not benefit from Step Change or offer an interim solution until Step Change comes along. Feedback from businesses and residents including community representative’s in East Lothian highlights significant problems, with a number of locations having an ‘unusable’ broadband service which hampers development and threatens sustainability. The Step Change programme has the objective of achieving a minimum 2Mbps to every premise in Scotland by 2017. Based on feedback it is evident that a 2Mbps service will be inadequate in meeting the needs of the majority of residents/businesses in East Lothian. A commonly stated desire is to widen access to a ‘usable’ broadband speed rather than focus on further raising speeds for those already with a commercially available and ‘usable’ service. The term ‘usable’ is a common misconception and is explored further in the strategy document. The challenge is to provide