Description / Explanation
The Rzeszów Metropolitan Telecommunication Network (MTN) is a highly innovative wireless network based on point-to-multipoint 26GHz technology. It was developed in cooperation with VSAT System sj and Cambridge Broadband Networks (CBNL) and is estimated to have increased broadband penetration from approximately 15.6% (Households with broadband access 2005-2010, according to OECD data) to up to 80%.
The results are clear: over 500 Wi-Fi hot spots offer broadband to under-served homes and economic areas, 172 schools and city buildings have superfast broadband of up to 200Mbps, whilst 400 CCTV cameras monitor traffic and public safety. Connectivity for an Intelligent Transport System has reduced travel time by up to 6 minutes on some of the city’s busiest roads, with road capacity increasing by up to 40%. Most impressively, the network reduced the City’s annual telecommunication costs from EUR 235 000 to just EUR 94 000 – representing a 60% reduction in cost. The Rzeszów Metropolitan Telecommunication Network MTN has grown to become one of the most advanced broadband networks in Europe and a blueprint for leveraging the most advanced licensed and unlicensed wireless techniques to drive long-term socio-economic gains.
Basic information
Project type
Organisational
Time frame
01/01/2006 to 31/12/2017
Country
Poland
Scope
regional
Project submitted by
Name
Lesław Bańdur
Organisation
Municipal Office of Rzeszów
Function
Director of IT
Phone
0048 6933 59966
Email
Infrastructure & Service
Infrastructure, technology and architecture
The MTN uses two radio technologies which have created a highly efficient point-to-multipoint (PMP) network that leverages the complementary qualities of both licensed and unlicensed spectrum. A 26GHz PMP network provides the primary layer of line-of-site coverage. By adopting a highly cost effective PMP architecture, the City of Rzeszów has unlocked the vast capacity of millimetre wave that has historically been the domain of more costly legacy point-to-point (PTP) networks. This innovative approach has created a blueprint for future smart cities and leveraged the benefits of a frequency that has been designated a pioneer band for 5G by the EU. 26GHz PMP hub sites were housed at 17 points-of-presence across Rzeszów, each providing 360 degree coverage with a 3 to 5 mile range. This carrier-grade spectrum offers high capacity coverage across the entire city, serving a range of superfast broadband applications.
Financing
Cost structure and financing sources
Project financing has been primarily sourced from EU funds. From the total EUR 6 300 000 Rzeszów Metropolitan Area Network cost, EUR 5 100 000 was secured from the Integrated Operational Program for Regional Development and the European Regional Development Fund under the Regional Operational Program of the Podkarpackie Region for 2007-2013. A further EUR 52 000 was secured from national state budget support, with EUR 448 000 secured from local city funding. Please note, the project also used a very small percentage of funds from the Rzeszów Intelligent Transport System, providing connectivity for a EUR 77 000 000 project to build the infrastructure for a new transport system, including the purchase of a new bus fleet.
Scalability
Actors involved and their roles
The MTN project was led by Mr Lesław Bańdur, Director of IT at the Office for IT and Telecommunication Services of the Municipal Office of Rzeszów. The scope and performance criteria of the network was developed in close collaboration with all offices of the city, including schools, economic groups, cultural centres and traffic control. This systematic approach to requirement gathering was vital, ensuring investments were in the best interest of socioeconomic drivers. Following a competitive tender process, the Office for IT and Telecommunications Services appointed VSAT System sj– a 3rd party systems integrator with significant knowledge in wireless networking. VSAT System sj supported the city in developing the most effective wireless strategy to meet requirements. This not only included selection of the most suitable technologies, but consultation services on network design, vendor selection and deployment. This partnership enabled the city to gain access to the most innovative wireless techniques and develop an action plan for the roll out. Cambridge Broadband Networks Limited (CBNL) was appointed as the supplier of PMP 26GHz technology, with Telrad providing the WiMAX. CBNL also provided network design services to optimise network performance, alongside ongoing technical support. Finally, the City appointed a 3rd party installation and commissioning company to build the towers and install the radios.
Unique characteristics
Rzeszów has taken a completely novel approach to building a high capacity broadband network, resulting in benefits for every element of society. This is demonstrated by the fact the MTN is the first city owned broadband network in the world to use licensed PMP technology. Although PMP at 26GHz is well established commercially with the largest mobile operators for backhaul and fixed wireless, its benefits have never been transferred to municipal environments – until now. Rzeszów is the first city in the world to take best practice licensed PMP from the global mobile industry and apply it to a municipal network, achieving outstanding results.
Success factors
By adopting PMP, Rzeszów significantly increased the coverage it was able to provide with 26GHz spectrum compared to traditional PTP techniques. In fact, by using PMP, the city has connected almost twice as many sites compared to what it would have achieved with PTP with the same financial investment. This is derived from the 50% cost savings PMP has over PTP (total cost of ownership and time to break even of last mile data transport for MNOs and ISPs, Real Wireless). This vastly increased the socioeconomic impact European funds had on the city. With regulators and operators across the world now looking to adopt PMP at 26GHz to deliver 5G, the MTN is a blueprint for how future networks will be designed and deployed. It’s not only an example of how to drive social cohesion through ubiquitous connectivity, but how to lay the foundations for a multi-Gigabit society of the future.
Project review
Results
The network has delivered impressive results that have impacted a broad range of areas. The MTN has played a major role in bridging the digital divide in the city, increasing home broadband penetration from approximately 15.6% in 2005 (Households with broadband access 2005-2010, OECD) to up to 80% in 2017. This is an outstanding achievement, made possible by over 500 free Wi-Fi hot spots. This has had a major impact in enabling citizens from across the region to benefit from a range of new services, including e-learning, online banking, public services and forums to increase community cohesion. The inclusivity, fostered by extending free broadband access to every citizen, is an important outcome of the project. Wi-Fi is also available in all major educational and tourist areas – increasing the city’s appeal and therefore its ability to build long-term economic hubs. In addition to the Wi-Fi hot spots, the superfast 26GHz network achieved impressive results. Over 170 city-owned educational and administrative buildings were connected with broadband up to 200Mbps. This transformed the learning and operational environment of the city, enabling the introduction of the most modern educational tools and city management systems.
Technical potential for expansion, future proof infrastructure
A major trend is emerging across Europe to develop the next wave of 5G technology. At its heart is millimetre wave, specifically 26GHz and 28GHz. The vast capacity and potential of these frequencies is evidenced by the EU’s own ambition that 26GHz will become a “pioneer band” for 5G.
By pioneering PMP, Rzeszów has not only leveraged 26GHz spectrum to bring immediate benefits, but set the foundations of a multi-gigabit future. The wider channels available at 26GHz enable the City to scale bandwidths from 200Mbps, to over a Gigabit per second in the future. As the City owns the spectrum, it is able to quickly respond to increasing bandwidth needs, leveraging its partnership with leading technology firms VSAT System and CBNL. This progressive business model will not only continue to support Rzeszów’s economic growth, but deliver on the EU’s gigabit ambition target for 2025.
The licensed qualities of 26GHz provide the City with guaranteed bandwidth that is immune from the interference that is common in lower frequencies. This carrier-grade service provides a future proof network for Rzeszów that is highly scalable and protected from the potential radio interference that may occur in less advanced municipal networks.
The network provides such a high degree of flexibility that it can easily meet the changing needs of the city. Broadband sites can be added or moved within a PMP sector without the need to visit the hub site, which has the added benefit of significantly reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, bandwidth can be dynamically allocated to sites on a millisecond by millisecond basis, enabling the network to dynamically meet the city’s evolving landscape.
This flexibility and scalability has already brought huge benefits to Rzeszów, quickly expanding its initial broadband services beyond the main socio-economic hubs of schools and civic services. By leveraging the 200Mbps core broadband infrastructure, the City was able to augment the network to roll out free public Wi-Fi to homes and the community at large. This network evolution brought broadband to up to 80% of the city, significantly expanding the impact of the investment to the community at large.
By pioneering PMP, Rzeszów has not only leveraged 26GHz spectrum to bring immediate benefits, but set the foundations of a multi-gigabit future. The wider channels available at 26GHz enable the City to scale bandwidths from 200Mbps, to over a Gigabit per second in the future. As the City owns the spectrum, it is able to quickly respond to increasing bandwidth needs, leveraging its partnership with leading technology firms VSAT System and CBNL. This progressive business model will not only continue to support Rzeszów’s economic growth, but deliver on the EU’s gigabit ambition target for 2025.
The licensed qualities of 26GHz provide the City with guaranteed bandwidth that is immune from the interference that is common in lower frequencies. This carrier-grade service provides a future proof network for Rzeszów that is highly scalable and protected from the potential radio interference that may occur in less advanced municipal networks.
The network provides such a high degree of flexibility that it can easily meet the changing needs of the city. Broadband sites can be added or moved within a PMP sector without the need to visit the hub site, which has the added benefit of significantly reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, bandwidth can be dynamically allocated to sites on a millisecond by millisecond basis, enabling the network to dynamically meet the city’s evolving landscape.
This flexibility and scalability has already brought huge benefits to Rzeszów, quickly expanding its initial broadband services beyond the main socio-economic hubs of schools and civic services. By leveraging the 200Mbps core broadband infrastructure, the City was able to augment the network to roll out free public Wi-Fi to homes and the community at large. This network evolution brought broadband to up to 80% of the city, significantly expanding the impact of the investment to the community at large.