The B4RN projectProfessor Barry Forde MBE

Chief ExecutiveB.Forde@b4rn.org.uk

www.b4rn.org .uk

INCA Rural Broadband Workshop 2

Broadband for the Rural North

• Industrial and Provident Society Act 1965– Incorporated August 2011– Company number IP31352R

• Community Benefit Society– Similar to coop but answerable to community

rather than shareholders– One member one vote, not related to number of

shares member holds• Project launched December with share offer16th September 2015

INCA Rural Broadband Workshop 3

Area

16th September 2015

Parishes = 41Area = 700Km2

Properties = ~10,000

INCA Rural Broadband Workshop 4

Delivery• Community project, gives us:-

– wayleaves support– Volunteer effort– High take up rates >65%

• Full FTTH (2f PtP)– cross country with wayleaves from landowners– Small bore duct, blown fibre technology– £5/metre for core routes, £0.20/metre spurs + labour– Average cost per property < £1K

• 1Gbs symmetrical £150 connect, £30/month– 10Gbs symmetrical £2000 connect, £120/month

• No cheap CPEs for 10Gbs • One month contract period

16th September 2015

INCA Rural Broadband Workshop 5

External Connectivity

• Leased Zayo dark fibre to Telecity Manchester• Up to 32ch DWDM– Currently light 40Gbs– Additional 10Gbs channels CAPEX £1K, OPEX £0.– Massive over provision to ensure outstanding QoS

• Juniper MX240 core router in Telecity• Peering at IX-Manchester and LINX London• 10Gbs pipe for IP transit, easily scaled

16th September 2015

INCA Rural Broadband Workshop 6

Funding• Shares

– ~£1.50M raised via shares– Number of members ~650 and climbing– Still getting strong support– EIS eligible so 30% tax rebate from HMRC– 3 year lock in period– 5%/pa from year 4 onwards

• Loans– ~£1.25M raised from within community– 5 or 10 year terms– Initially paying 6% now reduced to 5% for new loans– £300K raised outside community (Esmee Fairburn), 5 year

• Each Parish/Area is self funded by its community• Grants – Zero!

16th September 2015

INCA Rural Broadband Workshop 7

Project status

• ~700Km of duct laid• 1250 customers connected– More than covers all OPEX and staffing costs (7 FTEs)

• Adding 50-100 per month– @2300 customers cashflow will allow for full repayment of

loans and shares by year 12• Take up rate >65%, Footprint 10,000 properties, will

get to 6500 connections• Expansion is now self funding, each parish puts up

100% of CAPEX

16th September 2015