Tenders invited for broadband technology pilots

Tenders invited for broadband technology pilots

New Zealand is another step closer to ultra-fast broadband with tenders invited today for pilots of alternative deployment techniques for optic fibre.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) is part of the Deployment Standards Initiative being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Economic Development, Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH), and the Digital Auckland Working Party (DAWP). The project is running in parallel to the Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB) and Rural Broadband Initiatives to facilitate the roll-out of broadband infrastructure.

Proposals are sought for the provision of seven pilots, for deployment types including mini-trenching, micro-trenching, pipe insertion, aerial and directional drilling. The pilots are expected to begin before Christmas.

Bidders are invited to form consortia, which could include councils, deployment technology providers and civil engineering contractors, working together at a variety of locations throughout New Zealand.

“These pilots will test various techniques and shape the standards that will guide the roll-out of broadband to urban and rural areas,” said Bruce Parkes, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry’s Energy and Communications Branch. “I would like to acknowledge DAWP for initiating the project, and the work of the Deployment Standards Initiative project team for developing a framework which, once applied, will provide consistency over the rules and standards that will be applied to fibre optic deployment that forms part of the UFB Initiative and the Rural Broadband Initiative.”

“It’s pleasing to see progress towards finalising deployment standards as we proceed with the UFB Initiative,” said CFH Chief Executive Graham Mitchell. “Crown Fibre Holdings is delighted to see strong interest and co-operation in this space. We encourage continued participation by fibre companies, telecommunications providers, local authorities, roading controllers and other interested parties.”

It is intended that the standards arising from successful pilots will be incorporated into a national utilities code, which will have regulation status under the Utilities Access Act 2010.

Information on the RFP process is available from the Ministry’s website at www.med.govt.nz/facilitating-broadband. Proposals are due by 5.00pm, Tuesday 26 October 2010. Intending participants should download the RFP from www.gets.govt.nz.

In June, the Ministry of Economic Development released a discussion document seeking feedback and Expressions of Interest on plans to develop nationwide fibre deployment standards and to test those standards through a number of pilot deployments at selected locations. This Request for Proposals is the second phase of the tender process.

Questions and answers

1. What deployment types have been selected, and why?
Seven deployment techniques have been selected to be tested via the pilots:
• Pilot 1: Mini-trenching (in silt, sand or clay)
• Pilot 2: Mini-trenching (in alluvial material)
• Pilot 3: Mini-trenching (in rock)
• Pilot 4: Micro-trenching
• Pilot 5: Aerial installation on existing poles
• Pilot 6: Directional drilling
• Pilot 7: Insertion in existing live underground services.
They were chosen on the basis of the Expressions of Interest received by the Ministry of Economic Development, following the release of the Deployment Standards Initiative discussion document in June 2010
The pilots are concerned with validating the local viability of already established techniques. The extent to which a particular technique is likely to be used in the roll-out of the ultra-fast broadband (UFB) and the rural broadband initiatives was also taken into account, and specialist technical advice was sought.

2. Why are you trialling aerial and directional drilling technologies?
While these deployment techniques are relatively well understood, it’s appropriate to test them under controlled conditions to enable appropriate standards to be drafted accordingly.

3. Why are technologies relatively unknown to New Zealand being piloted?
Shallow or mini-trenching and micro-trenching are new to New Zealand, but have been widely used abroad. We have a series of comprehensive and appropriate measures in place to manage any issues arising. The point of this initiative is to test proven technologies in our local environment and we look forward to receiving the results of these pilots.

4. How are the pilots being funded?
The majority of the costs will fall to the successful tenderer. This was made clear when Expressions of Interest (EOI) were called for in June 2010. The EOIs received show there is a high level of market interest in this initiative.
The Government will consider making a contribution toward the total cost of the pilots in light of the tender responses received.

5. What consideration is being given to the whole-of-life costs of the methods?
Laboratory testing is a key aspect of the Deployment Standards Initiative, for the purposes of understanding the long-term impact of the deployment techniques on corridor infrastructure. Laboratory testing will run in parallel with the pilots, but it is not part of the tender process.

6. If successful, will these pilots form part of the UFB rollout?
Each pilot is intended to result in a viable piece of infrastructure, which could be of interest to any Local Fibre Company (LFC) operating in a candidate area. LFCs will have the opportunity, but not the obligation, to purchase the completed pilot at cost and include it in their roll-out.

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