Tove Valley Communities Superfast Broadband A project led

Tove Valley Communities Superfast Broadband A project led by Abthorpe Broadband Association Limited on behalf of the rural area of the upper Tove valley Tove Valley Broadband – 20 October 2015 1

Brief history Prior to 2003 -- dial-up at a snail’s pace No prospect of ADSL connection to Abthorpe 2003 March - the conception of ABb. A Our own Satellite Broadband for Abthorpe and Slapton at just £ 5 a month – 1. 5 Mbps • 2006 ADSL – BT came to town • Our customers need a better service! • •

Bonjour Bruxelles Tove Valley Broadband – 19 September 2013 3

Getting Started It all began in 2003 with dial-up at a snail’s pace No prospect of ADSL connection to Abthorpe The conception of ABb. A Our own Satellite Broadband for Abthorpe and Slapton at just £ 5 a month – 1. 5 Mbps • 2006 ADSL – BT came to town • Our customers need a better service! • •

The Demand for SFBB • 2 Mbps is no longer enough • i. Player, ITV player and other on demand TV applications, Netflix, Love Film, You. Tube, on-line gaming • For now it appears to be an urban revolution • Not a commercial economic prospect for many rural areas • Nothing for Abthorpe and Slapton in the foreseeable future • For ABb. A it was change or die

Could we make a case for SFBB • Much more complex economics and infrastructure would demand more revenue • Bigger area • More customers • Wi-Fi should work but much more complex geography • The communities of Abthorpe, Slapton, Wappenham, Weston and Lois Weedon fitted together.

Tove Valley Broadband – 19 September 2013 7

Building Commitment • 450 premises; 280 are businesses or homeworkers • Generating commitment • • • Leaflets and flyers Village meetings and local events Website and registration MP endorsement Local publicity, local radio, About my Area • 200 households and businesses signed up • It was a “Go”!!

Tove Valley Communities Superfast Broadband A project led by Abthorpe Broadband Association Limited on behalf of the rural area of the upper Tove valley Eric Malcomson - Chairman Tove Valley Broadband – 19 September 2013 10

Organisation Salient Facts • Abthorpe Broadband Association Limited – Not-for-profit • Captures the attention of the communinties. – limited by guarantee • Members are liable to pay £ 1 each in the event of the Company failing. – Run by volunteers • No employees, PAYE, VAT – simple accounts. – Get support • Community, District, County, DEFRA, DCMS

Expertise • • The Ring-leader The Geek The Quidnunc Aspiring Millionaire

Pre-survey your take-up • Set up a website survey – DIY or Survey. Monkey • Letterbox drop leaflets • Get invited to Parish meetings and other community meetings • Gate-crash coffee mornings, etc. • Make sure your service is wanted……. .

TVB Project Achievements • 100/100 Mbps backhaul • Better than superfast (24 Mbps+) using Wi. Fi radios (5 GHz) • Over 400 premises could be served • Since 01 June 2013 - 175 members (16/09/13)

Basic costings (incl. VAT) 100/100 Mbps backhaul £ 18, 000/year Revenue costs : 200 users = £ 10/month Point-to-point radio links 8 units = £ 2, 500 Access points (back 2 back) Switches, Routers, etc. Misc. wire, plugs, tools, etc. 34 units + = £ 5, 000 £ 3, 500 Total capital £ 14, 000 for 200 users Capital costs : 200 users £ 100 membership fee Client premises equipment £ 75 to cover costs

Where is the TVB Project going? • 500/500 Mbps backhaul – Already we are seeing sustained peaks of usage of over 50 Mbps. This will cost us £ 35, 000/year • Fibre between villages – Which will deliver full bandwidth to village access points by replacing point-to-point radio links • Fibre to premises – The bee’s knees – almost totally future-proof

Extended costings • Fibre between villages – £ 100, 000 (about £ 5/m plus kit plus “civils”) • Fibre to the premises – £ 100, 000 (£ 20, 000 per village) • RCBF grant – £ 100, 000 • Community funding – £ 70, 000 from loans – paid off by 2017 – £ 30, 000 from members fees and subscriptions

Telephone Services BT voice call plan, broadband, line rental £ 35 -45/month Cost of cancelling (broadband) £ 30. 00 Open VOIP account (Vonage) Call plan Transfer existing telephone number £ 20. 00 £ 6/month Free Telephone and Broadband from TVB £ 16/month Remember, always keep a mobile phone charged in case you need to make emergency calls

LINKS Tove. Valley website Fibretest. kcom. com Coverage area Original survey page Wappenham church panorama