Small Worlds Future Plans For Their Network & Services

"For those of you wondering what we are planning, here’s a little insight in to what we are currently working on. Of course even the best plans go awry, and we’re always looking to add new developments, but this is the current state of play.

At the moment we are launching our new set-top box and TV packages. This has meant replacing the existing conditional access system (the equipment that controls the smartcard, and ensures that only those who subscribe get access to the TV channels), and also a new middleware system. This is the software that powers the electronic program guide.

For the next year or so we will run the two systems in parallel until all customers have moved over to the new TV solution. However we have stopped any further development work on the old system, so new channels etc. are only available on the new Smallworld set-top box.

We have added over 20 new channels as part of the relaunch, and there will be a few more changes at the beginning of July. After that we expect to review our channel line up every six months or so to ensure it stays up to date-some channels fade, whilst new channels emerge. We are currently planning for some more channels to be added in early 2008, but this will require new equipment and is still in development.

We are looking at PVR and HD, and would be interested in customers views. We think the current generation of HD boxes / content is too expensive for the majority of customers, and that next year a more realistic set of prices will emerge. It is on our roadmap however.

We are well underway on our IPTV solutions however, and have had a trial solution since last summer. We have now progressed beyond feasibility and are identifying our core suppliers and selecting the set-top box. Again it is likely to be early to mid 2008 before we can roll-out across our unbundled network.

We have just launched our 8Mb service. This utilises Docsis cable modems (we tend to use Motorola Surfboards), and we have a policy of fitting stand-alone modems in all cases. We think this is more flexible (albeit more expensive for us) than using a built-in modem in the set-top box.

For the future we are planning to use xDSL for higher speed broadband. This will be a combination of ADSL2+ and soon VDSL2. Over the coming years a significant part of our network will be via unbundled BT exchanges linked via our extensive fibre backhaul, so a common Next-Generation Broadband network makes sense. Our copper lengths are typically 500m (our network goes down to 300 homes, which is much closer to the house than most other networks), so VDSL2 and ADSL2+ are suitable at delivering the speeds we think customers will require. Our upcoming Max service will be up to 18Mb (on our cable network it will deliver 18-20Mb). We will probably go for a 750Kb or 1Mb upstream. At this stage we expect it to be uncapped, like all our services, but will need to introduce some traffic prioritisation to manage the bandwidth of very heavy users. Probably we will throttle a little during peak hours and open the full bandwidth during the night hours, for downloads etc. Your views are welcome... if we manage the impact during peak hours then we can keep the prices down for the Max service.

We are also evaluating Fibre to the Home and Ethernet to the Home, as we expect to commence 'digging' again next year. In particular Lancaster City is extensively ducted by us and as yet we have not selected the technology we will use to activate that area.

We have three carrier grade resilient telephone exchanges (we use Nortel DMS switches). Over the next few months we are launching a number of Business Services, but residential services will remain the same.

Currently we serve about 40,000 homes in Carlisle, Lancaster, Morecombe, Irvine, Troon and Kilmarnock. The original business was designed to serve 330,000 homes before it was put on hold in 2001. Our Fibre network extends throughout Ayrshire and via Dumfries and Cumbria to Lancashire, so over the next few years we expect to connect at least 200,000 new homes to the network via a combination of new build and unbundling BT exchanges.

Irvine Town, Irvine Stanecastle and Kilmarnock exchanges are all being unbundled currently, and we have dug to each of these exchanges to ensure we have sufficient unmetered bandwidth to be able to offer unlimited broadband and IPTV in the future. Lancaster, Carlisle and Ayr are planned for the next few months, with at least Dumfries, Prestwick, Penrith and Kendal likely to follow in 2008.

We will use ADSL2+ in each of these exchanges and will be offering a full range of broadband and telephony services to residential and business customers. In 2008 we expect to be able to offer pay TV via a set-top box on the telephone line. About 1500 homes in Morecombe will be activated over the next year, and in early 2008 we expect to commence network build-out in Lancaster City.

We are always interested in working with developers building new homes in our area, so please get in contact.

Other things in the pipeline include a new telephone system to improve customer service, and we are also in the process of changing to an improved Email platform.

We are adding to our extensive range of Business products, and also offer a range of managed IT solutions for business users.

We hope that helps give an indication of our plans. We are always interested in views, so give us a call or arrange to call in to our Irvine offices if you are interested in finding out more.

The Smallworld team" ( May 2007 )