Next Generation Network (NGN) – frequently asked questions
What is the NGN and how will it work?
The Next Generation Network (NGN) is the next step in the development of our high speed ICT network, to support computer and telephone services throughout the county. A major part of the NGN is the provision of high speed network connections for all our schools.
It will deliver faster network connections and allow us to meet and exceed the Department for Children, Schools and Families targets (DCSF) (see also Q2 and Q3 below). The technology being used is either fibre optic cabling, or Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), dependent on the schools location and building type. In both cases the main supplier is BT.
What are the benefits for schools?
Each school will be provided with a high speed, secure, private network connection linked directly to the Councils network. This will provide access to the National Education Network (NEN), via the South East Grid for Learning (SEGfL), and access to services provided by ESCC and its partners.
Why is it being introduced?
The DCSF require secondary schools to have 8MB/s connections, and other schools 2MB/s. Providing these connection speeds through the NGN project is by far the most cost effective solution for all schools.
New ICT systems within schools, such as Learning Platforms, will inevitably create greater demands on Internet bandwidth. The design of the NGN broadband network for schools will allow ESCC to increase speeds and bandwidth as and when required in the most cost effective manner.
How is it funded, what is the cost to schools?
The NGN project was approved by the Cabinet in November 2005, as a way of saving money in the future by investing in services now. No additional costs will be borne by schools.
Will it be more expensive than current arrangements?
No. The annual charge and funding remains the same as it has for the last 3 years. There is no additional cost to the school for installation or maintenance of the NGN broadband service.
Will it involve all schools; should they have to join in?
Yes. We have planned and costed the service on an “invest to save basis” for all schools to be connected. In the unlikely event a school chooses not to use the service, the school will need to implement their own alternative which must meet the same security, speed and capacity requirements. Such a bespoke solution will not be funded or supported by the Local Authority.
What is the timescale for its introduction?
Once all surveys are completed, equipment will be installed between March and July and ICT managers envisage that, following testing, all connections to the NGN will be completed by the end of the year.
Is it safe health wise?
The technology used meets or exceeds all UK, European, and International regulatory and Health & Safety standards.
The FWA signal is a lower power output and a very focussed point-to-point beam, as opposed to the “blanket” coverage of other technologies such as Mobile Phones and “Wi-Fi” networks. FWA antennas are always placed high up on roofs, walls or purpose installed poles, placing the signal well above head height.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) state, when discussing wireless computer networking equipment, “If an explicit statement that exposures are within the ICNIRP guidelines is required, this would have to be obtained from the manufacturers; however, it could be argued that this is implicit in the CE marking”. All NGN and FWA equipment clearly display the CE mark.
For more details visit the websites of the Health Protection Agency and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Have you ensured this is the case? How?
Yes. Please see the various activities below.
We pro-actively consulted with BT and its technical partner MLL Telecom to ensure that the technology being used meets all the necessary standards for wireless networking.
East Sussex County Council’s Occupational Health & Safety team have been consulted and fully involved, to ensure development of the FWA solution is appropriate for use within ESCC buildings and schools.
MLL Telecoms Head of Network Planning have concluded from tests that measurements taken from the FWA equipment were approximately 95% lower than those taken from, for example, a mobile phone.
Once equipment is installed, further independent tests will be commissioned by The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), part of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to confirm that the FWA technology meets all the UK, European, and International regulatory and Health and Safety standards.
How are you dealing with any concerns?
We have a very open and inclusive communications policy. We discuss the work being undertaken with every school and provide information, presentations, and newsletters to advise them of the NGN and the benefits it will provide.
We document all feedback and concerns given by schools, with questions answered directly by members of the NGN project team and/or our technology partners BT and MLL Telecom.
Where necessary, further consultation takes place with the necessary technical experts to ensure the responses given are accurate.
If requested by the school, members of the NGN project team, BT, and MLL Telecom, will attend school meetings.
What is the schools’ view?
We have had a lot of engagement from schools so far and the feedback has been very positive. Where concern has been raised we have engaged in dialogue based on the safety facts mentioned above to re-assure any schools.
We aim to provide clear guidance on the different nature of FWA and facts on the relevant Health and Safety standards as mentioned above.
How secure is it?
The NGN broadband service is a corporate strength private network for all ESCC buildings, and as such offers schools a reliable, safe and very secure network connection.
The technology being deployed for FWA is not the same as public Wi-Fi wireless networking, so does not suffer from any of the perceived weakness of such technology.
Is this unique to East Sussex or is it tried and tested elsewhere?
Many other Local Authorities have used the same technology with great success.
What about planning permission?
Planning permission is not always required. For cases where it is, consideration will be made on the size and position of the equipment, as well as the location of the site.
Further consideration will be made on the impact of its appearance on the area, and whether the location is in a conservation area or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Health impact issues are dealt with by other agencies. The Government states in its planning guidance (PPG8) that if a telecommunication proposal “meets the ICNIRP guidelines for public exposure it should not be necessary for a local planning authority, in processing an application for planning permission or prior approval, to consider further the health aspects and concerns about them.”
All NGN installations, whether it requires planning permission or not, include all the relevant International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) conformity information.
For further information about PPG8 visit the Planning Portal website.
