The Wrong Side of the Digital Divide
Residents in an affordable housing high rise in an urban area of Ohio were relying on slow internet (28 Mbps) which they were getting for free, but it was not meeting their bandwidth needs.
A local non-profit group was awarded $20 million to deliver a low-cost internet program throughout the city delivering a minimum of 100 Mbps per customer for a price of $18/month. As part of the award, the group promised to connect a specific number of homes in a very short time frame, so time was of the essence. On their list of properties needing to be upgraded was a specific high rise that provides eligible low-income individuals and families with quality, safe, affordable housing.
Residents in affordable housing units are, in many cases, on the wrong side of the “Digital Divide” because they cannot afford to pay a high monthly fee for high-speed broadband services. Programs are being developed across the United States to address this issue, but it takes time, resources, and the right technology to close the current gap.
The high rise was built in 1955 and refurbished in 1990 so the telecommunications wiring in the building is made up of twisted pair phone lines.
The Challenge
The local non-profit group, acting as the ISP, needed to find a solution that would deliver the high-speed broadband services they promised but needed to find a cost-effective way to enable those services utilizing the existing wiring in the building. Installing fiber in a 60-year-old building was not an option because it would have been very expensive and disruptive to the residents. Cable was also not an option because the building was not wired for coax.
The ideal solution would not only be cost-effective but would also meet the grant requirements specified for affordable housing units.
The local non-profit group, acting as the ISP, needed to find a solution that would deliver the high-speed broadband services they promised but needed to find a cost-effective way to enable those services utilizing the existing wiring in the building.
Installing fiber in a 60-year-old building was not an option because it would have been very expensive and disruptive to the residents. Cable was also not an option because the building was not wired for coax.
The ideal solution would not only be cost-effective but would also meet the grant requirements specified for affordable housing units.
The Solution
ESS Networks, a highly experienced telecommunications integrator, was selected to provide the right solution for this critical project. ESS specializes in high-density private housing, government programs, as well as business and residential connections. The ESS team chose to partner with Actelis Networks and deploy the company’s GigaLine 900 solution within the high rise.
ESS Networks, a highly experienced telecommunications integrator, was selected to provide the right solution for this critical project. ESS specializes in high-density private housing, government programs, as well as business and residential connections. The ESS team chose to partner with Actelis Networks and deploy the company’s GigaLine 900 solution within the high rise.
The GigaLine 900 dynamically allocates Gigabit, fiber-grade services to each apartment unit utilizing the existing phone lines or coax within the walls of the building or via Ethernet. It is quick to deploy and a very cost-effective way for ISPs to bring broadband services to residents that need more bandwidth. The solution is environmentally friendly as well, with a power consumption of only 5 watts.
The GigaLine 900 solution is made up of the GL916, a 16-port G.hn PON extender that is typically deployed in the telecom room or basement of the building, and the GL91, a very compact G.hn Ethernet bridge that is placed in each apartment and connected to the customer’s WiFi gateway. Each GL916 can bring services to up to 16 apartments. Multiple GL916’s can be stacked to reach more apartments. The GL91 is able to interface with any WiFi gateway.
In the case of the high rise, service was being delivered into the building by a fixed wireless access point (Siklu mmWave) on the roof. The signal was converted to Ethernet and connected to the GL916 device in the telecom room. Each GL91 was connected to a MikroTik hAP WiFi router in each apartment unit.
The GigaLine 900 dynamically allocates Gigabit, fiber-grade services to each apartment unit utilizing the existing phone lines or coax within the walls of the building or via Ethernet. It is quick to deploy and a very cost-effective way for ISPs to bring broadband services to residents that need more bandwidth. The solution is environmentally friendly as well, with a power consumption of only 5 watts.
The GigaLine 900 solution is made up of the GL916, a 16-port G.hn PON extender that is typically deployed in the telecom room or basement of the building, and the GL91, a very compact G.hn Ethernet bridge that is placed in each apartment and connected to the customer’s WiFi gateway. Each GL916 can bring services to up to 16 apartments. Multiple GL916’s can be stacked to reach more apartments. The GL91 is able to interface with any WiFi gateway.
In the case of the high rise, service was being delivered into the building by a fixed wireless access point (Siklu mmWave) on the roof. The signal was converted to Ethernet and connected to the GL916 device in the telecom room. Each GL91 was connected to a MikroTik hAP WiFi router in each apartment unit.
Before deployment, ESS staff tested the viability of the phone lines. In most instances, ESS was able to utilize the existing twisted pair phone lines to connect each apartment. When that was not possible, their team connected the GigaLine 900 solution with Ethernet cabling.
Before deployment, ESS staff tested the viability of the phone lines. In most instances, ESS was able to utilize the existing twisted pair phone lines to connect each apartment. When that was not possible, their team connected the GigaLine 900 solution with Ethernet cabling.
The Outcome
In a short amount of time, the ESS team was able to deliver broadband services to residents within the high rise, providing much needed bandwidth (with the option for up to 1 Gig symmetrical) for internet access and streaming. Even though residents are paying a very low price for their internet services, the ISP’s return on investment on the Actelis solution is less than 1 year. Additionally, connecting the high rise so quickly means that the non-profit group can move on to connecting other buildings in the city, helping them to keep their stated goals of deploying affordable internet services throughout the city.
Even more importantly, residents in the high rise now have access to services that many people take for granted. They can use the tremendous increase in bandwidth for work, school, and leisure, providing much needed improvement in their way of life.
In a short amount of time, the ESS team was able to deliver broadband services to residents within the high rise, providing much needed bandwidth (with the option for up to 1 Gig symmetrical) for internet access and streaming. Even though residents are paying a very low price for their internet services, the ISP’s return on investment on the Actelis solution is less than 1 year. Additionally, connecting the high rise so quickly means that the non-profit group can move on to connecting other buildings in the city, helping them to keep their stated goals of deploying affordable internet services throughout the city.
Even more importantly, residents in the high rise now have access to services that many people take for granted. They can use the tremendous increase in bandwidth for work, school, and leisure, providing much needed improvement in their way of life.
Modernize. Digitize. Protect.
Actelis helps ISPs modernize their networks in a fast, cost-effective way, while helping to close the digital divide with instant and secure Gigabit services.
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- Intelligent XG-PON/Gigabit fiber extender/splitter
- 2.5 Gbps/1 Gbps uplink to support up to 16 1 Gbps customers with symmetrical services over existing copper or coax
- Green solution – Power consumption is less than 5W
- Immediate service turn-up in just a few hours
- High Quality of Experience (QoE)
- Crosstalk free