Mobile Infrastructure Project
Industry Stakeholder Engagement : RESPONSES
January 2012
V1.0

Our aim is to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, support the pursuit of excellence, and champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

About you
Name of your organisation:	
	
Address:	

	
Telephone number:	
	
Contact name:	
	
Position:	
	
Email address:	
	
Telephone number(s):	

Chapter 2: Definition of a not spot
Question 2.1 A definition of a complete not-spot is set out in the Ofcom Infrastructure Report, based on an RSSI of -92dBM.   The MIP team are considering the case to define a minimum level of consumer experience which could expand the area of operation. Is setting an RSSI of -85dBm on roads and -75dBm in village areas as a minimum signal strength threshold the most appropriate way to define the project scope? What are your views on the levels set out here and are there any alternative RSSI levels or other measures you would suggest as a minimum acceptable service level given increasing customer expectations and greater reliance on their mobile devices?	

	
Question 2.2 (For MNOs) : If the above level for minimum consumer experience is used, what would the impact be on your current measured coverage in terms of premises and geographic area?	

	

Question 2.3: Is it sufficient to specify the requirement for a voice service and let the MNOs decide how best to support that service? It should be noted that one of the design principles is that MIP coverage extension should be compatible for the current and future population of handsets.	

	
Question 2.4: What are the implications of specifying a solution which will enable upgrades to high speed data services?	

	

Question 2.5: To what level is it appropriate to specify the base station and connectivity (backhaul) needed to secure an appropriate evolution path for future services to be supported by the MIP infrastructure?	

	
Question 2.6: How appropriate would it be to categorise the level of granularity according to different infrastructure solutions? If so, how might this categorisation be achieved?	

	

Chapter 3: What do we expect to procure?

Question 3.1: What would be the benefits and challenges of these two options (Serviced Sites and Wholesale Access) for delivering additional coverage? Are there other possible approaches that could deliver the project objectives at better value for money?	

	
Question 3.2: How can a service based on Wholesale Access be procured given it is reliant on spectrum held by mobile operators?  How appropriate would it be to agree Wholesale Access rates based on current termination rates? Are there any alternatives to the use of current termination rates as a charging model?	

	

Question 3.3: What level of infrastructure sharing is appropriate for meeting the MIP’s coverage objective in the most cost effective way (for example mast/site/Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing and/or local/rural roaming agreements)?	

	
Question 3.4: What factors are relevant in assessing the long term economic viability for MNO’s in providing services to current not-spot sites? What are the variables that inform the commercial viability of such locations?  How could the Government’s capital funding, BDUK and the local bodies (Devolved Administrations/Local Authorities) assist in improving the commercial viability of these models?	

	

Question 3.5: What is your view on the ownership and maintenance of government funded physical assets as part of this project? 	

	
Question 3.6: If an area is identified as a not-spot, what role could the government, community or local body play in securing an appropriate site to build the required base station (macro or micro)?	

	
Question 3.7: In your experience, what specific planning constraints currently exist in the delivery of network infrastructure in any region of the UK? What is the best way to address these?	

	
Question 3.8: How can the MIP ensure that incentives to existing coverage levels be maintained?	

	
Question 3.9: What would be the benefits and challenges of these procurement strategy options? 	

	
Question 3.10: What alternative procurement strategies could deliver a better value for money outcome for both industry and government?	

	

Chapter 4: Realising Coverage Improvements, securing industry participation.
Question 4.1: What mechanism(s) should be adopted by the MIP to secure provision of services by mobile spectrum owners at the procured Serviced Sites?	

	
Question 4.2: Where Wholesale Access is deemed the most appropriate solution to a not-spot, how does MIP secure MNO commitment to ensure the success of such a service? 	

	

Question 4.3: If a formal industry agreement is used what form should it take?	

	
Question 4.4: (For MNOs only.) Are you prepared to commit resources to help establish any industry agreement prior to the auction?	

	

Question 4.5:  If a formal link is established between the proposed 800 Mhz spectrum slot with the coverage obligation and the use of MIP sites; how would this impact on your decision to participate in the MIP project?	

	
Question 4.6: How would your organisation actively support a mobile service reliant on Wholesale Access?	

	

Question 4.7: If Serviced Sites began to be available from early in 2013, at what rate (sites per month) could MNOs begin deploying services to them? How long would you expect it to take to rollout to:
a) 1000 macro sites;
b) 2000 macro sites;
c) 2000 small cell sites; and
d) 5000 small sites?	

	
Question 4.8 Are there any additional comments you wish to make?

	

Thank you for your time to complete and respond to this questionnaire.  The MIP team hope that this will enable us to design an effective procurement and deployment of an appropriate solution.
In order to meet our overall timetable, the MIP team would like to receive your responses by 10th February 2012. Please therefore return this document to the project mailbox (MobileInfrastructure@culture.gsi.gov.uk).
Please also direct any general questions or clarifications requests to the project mailbox.
.

2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH
www.culture.gov.uk