LOCAL LOOP UNBUNDLING (LLU)
Incumbent telephony providers (typically BT) have been required to offer fully unbundled loops since August 2000 - i.e. access to the copper in the ground between exchanges and customer premises in order to provide competing voice and data services. The unbundling of local loops has allowed commercial ISPs to offer broadband services from the exchange. This is designed to increase competition, thus reducing cost and improving the variety of services available.
Strategic Technologies launched a programme of investigations in 2008 aimed at bringing some of the advantages of LLU to the provision of JANET connectivity.
LLU Activities 2009 - 2010
A Call for Expressions of Interest - Local Loop Unbundling in 2008 sought collaboration with an RNO, RBC or LEA to survey the educational sites in their region with a view to identifying clusters of potential targets around an unbundled exchange. It also offered funding for technical review documents that will detail the processes and costs of this connection method for the community.
This process elicited responses indicating pockets of existing expertise within the community, so additional case studies to capture that knowledge were funded.
Participants are:
- Lancaster University
- Yorkshire & Humberside Grid for Learning (YHGfL)
- Kent Public Service Network (KPSN)
The deliverables for this activity are now available.
If you would like any further information on Local Loop Unbundling or the current trial, please contact Mark O'Leary or Don Bishop .