ARCHIVED — Schedule 5

Technological Solution

A technical plan that describes the network system to be installed within a GSA, including a description and schematic/diagram of the various parts of the network, the technology to be deployed, where it will be used and how it will be installed, is required.

The infrastructure deployed through funding from Broadband Canada is subject to existing requirements for access, as stated below.

For wireline solutions, networks would be subject to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) existing regulated wholesale services framework. Wholesale services are telecommunications services that major telephone and cable companies make available to other competitors at rates and terms that are mandated by the CRTC.

For wireless solutions using any licensed frequencies, networks are subject to conditions of licence including those for Mandatory Roaming and Antenna Tower and Site Sharing and to Prohibit Exclusive Site Arrangements (see Industry Canada's CPC-2-0-17). Licensed radio-communication carriers must negotiate in good faith with other carriers toward concluding agreements, when technically feasible, to share antenna towers and sites. This includes access to ancillary equipment and services, at commercial rates that are reasonable comparable to rates currently charged to others for similar access.

For any solution, applicants should note the requirements of the Telecommunications Act, the Canadian Telecommunications Common Carrier Ownership and Control Regulations, the Radiocommunication Act and the Radiocommunication Regulations.

The technical plan must address the following criteria:

• Technology or technologies to be used to deliver broadband connectivity;
• Ability to deliver data transmission at a minimum download speed of 1.5 Mbps to a household;
• Target upload speed of 384 kbps from the household, using the same return path as the download link;
• Need to identify speed (download and upload) for each section of the network and of the overall network;
• Potential for network scalability describing its ability to adapt to the increased network capacity and demand over the next five years, accommodating the additional subscribers and usage traffic; and,
• Enhanced service strategy describing the network ability to deliver at speeds higher than 1.5 Mbps (when feasible).

5.1 Description of Proposed Network

The applicant must provide:

• Geographical maps of all network components including the exact latitude and longitude (e.g.: hours, minutes and seconds) except where purely customer-premises equipment (CPE) is required. The maps must illustrate towers (if wireless), central offices (COs), digital subscriber line (DSL) remotes, remote digital subscriber line access multiplex (DSLAM) units, cable TV, fibre optic routing, repeaters, etc., and the coverage areas.
  
  NOTE: Please use GSA maps provided by Industry Canada to show the above.
• Network diagrams identifying existing and proposed infrastructure including access-node locations, gateways, backhaul, distribution, etc., that provide a detailed technical description of the proposed technology. The maps must illustrate towers (if wireless), central offices (COs), digital subscriber line (DSL) remotes, remote digital subscriber line access multiplex (DSLAM) units, cable TV, fibre optic routing, repeaters, etc., and the coverage areas.

Sample diagram

5.2 Network Configuration

The applicant must provide:

• The logical design of the network as well as its physical deployment. This includes illustration of site locations for the equipment installation, explanations of any distance measurements and the identification of any physical impairments. These descriptions should identify sites with an address or other form of location identification;
• Information such as path/linkage between backhaul points and the future network linkage to a larger regional or provincial network should be included. Bandwidth capacity should be indicated for each link;
• Information identifying the capacity for accommodating additional subscribers once the existing equipment is running at full capacity (scalability); and,
• For wireless implementations, a description of the spectrum range and an explanation on why it is believed to be the optimal design for the proposed network should be included.

5.3 Network Technical Characteristics

The applicant must provide:

• the rationale for choosing technology or technologies to be deployed;
• a detailed list of proposed infrastructure equipment, including manufacturers, models and numbers to be installed, where applicable;
• a brief explanation of network reliability, including redundancy, equipment mean time between failure (MTBF), backup power, etc.;
• a brief explanation of the access spectrum to be used if wireless deployment is proposed (ie. applicant's own licence; secondary market; unlicensed). In the case of secondary market spectrum, the explanation must include whether the spectrum has been secured at the time of application or whether, and how, it will be secured (if conditional agreement in place, a copy should be included in the application; or indicate that negotiations will commence if application is successful);
• a brief explanation of the backhaul spectrum, if required. Applicants that require backhaul spectrum should contact Industry Canada's regional or district office in their area to discuss spectrum options;
• a brief explanation of quality of service, such as proposed maintenance, handling network component failures, potential system congestion, customer equipment failures, etc.;
• an explanation of how regulated access will be accommodated using the above technology and a list of open-access services that are to be offered to other telecommunications service providers, or to be acquired from service providers; and,
• assumed take-up rate and average subscription ratio.

5.4 Equipment Details

Describe quantities and types of equipment to be used at each installation, and proposed replacement strategies for damaged or outdated equipment.

5.5 Construction Schedule

Applicants must provide a detailed schedule for the network construction under Schedule 7: Project Management.

The applicant must guarantee completion on or before December 31, 2011.