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Frequently asked Questions
Q, Why was Enable Networks established?A. Enable Networks exists to deliver a truly world class open access broadband infrastructure to the businesses and community of Christchurch. The fibre infrastructure has the potential to enable a revolutionary improvement in high speed, low cost access to suppliers, customers, branches and communities of interest.
Q. Who is behind Enable Networks?
A. Enable Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Christchurch City Holdings (CCHL), the investment arm of Christchurch City Council. The formation of Enable Networks was lead by the CCC and Canterbury Development Corp and was partially funded by the Ministry of Economic Development.
Q. Who is Christchurch City Holdings (CCHL)
A. Christchurch City Holdings is the wholly owned investment arm of Christchurch City Council. CCHL are majority shareholders in: Orion Group, Christchurch International Airport, Lyttelton Port Company, City Care, Red Bus, and major shareholders in the Selwyn Plantation Board.
Q. What technology does the network use?
A. Enable Networks has constructed an underground (ducted) fibre optic cable system that utilises single mode fibre optics. The specific technology used is a blown fibre system that allows fibre to be blown into tubes in the ducting whenever required, allowing rapid expansion and customer connections with greater flexibility than traditional cabling. It is built to international telecommunications industry standards and is inherently very reliable.
Q. What is an open access fibre network?
A. In an open access environment, the network infrastructure is made available to any individual or organisation on relatively equal terms. Users could include telecommunications companies, ISPs, IT companies, individual companies and community organisations. This fundamentally changes the barriers that currently exist between competing networks. The dark fibre and Ethernet networks have maximum interoperability with all other networks, allowing them to be connected together without constraints.
Q. What is a dark fibre network?
A. A dark fibre network is simply the fibre cable without any electronics connected to it. Traditionally, this has not been an option on existing networks, as it enables the end user to have complete control over the speed of the network without incremental cost.
Q. Are there any constraints on the speed?
A. No not on the dark fibre network. The speed is only constrained by the electronics connected to the fibre. Typically these devices are relatively inexpensive and operate at speeds of 100Mbps to 10Gbps.
On the EnableETHERNET network, the bandwidth options are 30, 100 or 1000Mbps. This bandwidth is guaranteed through the Enable Networks switching core.
Q. What are the advantages of using Enable fibre?
A.
- It enables your network connections to operate as it they were part of your LAN.
- The speed of your connection is virtually unlimited.
- It reduces the complexity and cost of telecommunications and IT.
- It provides low cost, high-speed access to any IT or communications provider that you choose.
Q. What exactly is broadband?
A. Broadband is often used to describe a connection to the Internet at 2 to 10 Megabits per second. In reality it has a much wider definition, and Enable Networks has defined it as a digital connection carrying multiple streams of information at speeds of 100 Megabits per second or higher. A broadband network may connect to any remote location or to an Internet provider.
Q. Who can purchase Enable Networks services?
A. Any company, organisation or individual. A contract term of at least 2-3 years is common because the technology is future proof. Generally the decision to purchase is driven by the need for connection speeds of 2Mbps or higher. The service is not targeted at domestic consumers at this stage.
Q. Who can I use to help me with a connection using Enable Networks fibre?
A. Enable Networks has a group of Approved Partners who can provide services to you over the fibre network or deliver your networking requirements. Equally, you are free to use your existing IT Integrator to deliver services using our network. If you are a service provider you can use the Enable fibre to deliver your services to your customers. This is an Open Access network that anyone can use or resell.
Q. My current supplier is Telecom or Telstra. Can I still use them to connect services over Enable Networks?
A. This is an open access network (anyone can use it). Therefore from Enable Networks perspective there is absolutely no reason why Telecom and Telstra couldn’t provide value-added services over the Enable Networks fibre network and there are cases where this has occurred. We are currently discussing these options with both companies.
Q. What will organisations use Enable Networks fibre for?
A.
- Connecting to one of the many data hosting centres around Christchurch.
- High-speed connection to ISPs and the Internet peering exchange.
- Migrating to low cost, high performance voice & video over IP (VOIP) networks.
- Very high speed connection of branch offices or remote locations
- Lowering total communications costs
- Accessing remote IT and business applications
Q. How reliable is the Enable Network?
A. The network has been designed to the very best telecommunications industry standards. In fact the network ducting is generally buried much deeper than other networks and this has contributed to the fact that there have been no cable cuts in two years.
Q. Can this network connect to other parts of New Zealand?
A. Yes, we work very closely with a number of national networking providers and through those relationships we can provide high speed networking to other areas of New Zealand and internationally. In 2009, the FX Networks fibre network that currently connects North Island cities will reach Christchurch, opening up national bandwidth to almost unlimited potential.
Q. Can’t we already get high-speed broadband?
A. Not really. Most services are delivered on the copper (telephone) line network using DSL technology. The speed of those networks is increasing as DSL2+ and VDSL technologies are released, however these technologies are still copper based and will provide variable results in terms of speed, latency and reliability.
Q. Will Enable Networks deliver broadband to the home?
A. No, not initially, but this is an area of consideration for the Government and all network providers.
Q. How important is the Enable network for Christchurch?
A. In the City’s planning it has been identified that management of water, transport and telecommunications infrastructure are three of the most important issues facing Christchurch. The new economy is becoming increasingly reliant on high-speed broadband. Enabling affordable, high speed broadband for Christchurch is a key objective of Enable Networks and is fundamental to the economic and social development of Christchurch.
Q. What does this mean to ordinary people?
A. Over time, a ‘network of networks’ will be developed, enabling communities in Christchurch to access truly high-speed broadband. This will revolutionise many aspects of life. The need for travel will reduce as reliable, real time video-conferencing enables business people to tele-commute. Employment opportunities will be created as new businesses are attracted to Christchurch and new services and products become viable here. Schools will communicate digitally with each other, sharing learning resources and accessing services and information in a way that is not currently possible.
