Analysys Mason was technical adviser to the Irish government as it developed its National Broadband Plan

The problem

• Analysys Mason was the lead technical adviser to the Irish government for the technical strategy defining specifications and procurement of an operator for the National Broadband Plan (NBP), whose objective is to provide an NGA broadband service to 100% of the premises identified in rural Ireland (the Intervention Area)

The solution

• Our role included the following tasks:
  
  • development of all network and service technical specifications 
  • definition of Intervention Area in rural Ireland where no NGA services are currently commercially offered. We analysed the submitted coverage plans of various fixed operators around Ireland, determining the area where government intervention is required
  • definition of infrastructure-sharing strategy and high-level design of FTTP and associated OFC network architecture for different scenarios using combinations of FTTP and wireless technologies
  • development of capex and opex cost models for the above scenarios
  • development of the RFP for procurement of the network
  • definition of network implementation plan and prioritisation of underserved areas
• We evaluated the technical suitability of the various fixed solutions deployed in the country, identifying technologies that met the minimum requirements for high-speed broadband as directed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC)

Figure: Map of the Intervention Area (amber) for the NBP (Source: DECC, 2019)

The result

• After completing the project design stage, we developed the technical schedules for the contract, supported procurement dialogue with bidders and undertook evaluation of bid responses
• In November 2019, after a lengthy tender process, National Broadband Ireland (NBI) was awarded the contract to build the new rural network covering 540 000 premises. The network (which is currently being deployed) is pre-dominantly an FTTP network, with provision for wireless alternatives for up to 2% of the hardest-to-reach premises
• Analysys Mason was subsequently engaged to support and advise on the governance and oversight of the NBP network to ensure it delivers on the Irish government’s objectives to address rural broadband – more details of that work can be found here