GÉANT Mobile Connectivity
Feasibility Analysis
Request for Information (RFI)
February 2012
Mobile Connectivity Feasibility Analysis
GÉANT Mobile Connectivity Feasibility Analysis
Request for Information (RFI)
Introduction
In its 2011 report for the European Commission entitled “Knowledge without Borders1”, the
GÉANT Expert Group identified a need to take greater account of mobile provision within
research networks, both within campuses and beyond.
GÉANT has engaged Analysys Mason to conduct a Mobile Connectivity Feasibility Analysis,
which will examine how on- and off-campus wireless connectivity throughout the European
NREN community might be provided.
Your participation in completing this Request for Information (RFI) will assist Analysys Mason in
formulating and defining the User Requirement (market requirements), and enable production of a
feasibility report for GÉANT. Thank you in advance for your participation.
All data collected during this process will be treated in the strictest confidence, as we fully
understand that some of the information provided may be commercially sensitive.
We have asked respondents to provide their name and contact details, as we may wish to followup to understand responses in more detail. However, respondents are under no obligation to
provide their name or contact details and in such cases should leave the response to Q2.29 blank.
Whilst we are seeking full and complete responses to the RFI, respondents are under no obligation
to answer all of the questions. In those circumstances where no answer can be provided for a
particular question, or if the choices given are not quite suitable, it would be appreciated if
respondents could provide some extra context.
Recipients wishing to participate in the RFI process are requested to return the complete
questionnaire to the following email address by 12 March 2012:
Gareth Williams (Analysys Mason): [email protected]
This RFI is the first phase of the information gathering process which will include future
consultation and workshops.
1 http://www.geant.net/About_GEANT/GEANT_Expert_Group/Pages/GEANTExpertGroup.aspx
Mobile Connectivity Feasibility Analysis
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GÉANT Request for Information
Mobile Connectivity Feasibility Analysis
1
Name of National Research and Education Network (NREN):
2
Information Requested:
Level of Interest / Willingness to Participate
2.1
What level of interest exists within the NREN in helping to develop and deploy national
services to support a Pan-European mobile data connectivity solution to drive and support
staff and student mobility, support the virtual learning environment and provide secure and
reliable access to e-learning?
(a) No interest
(b) Limited interest
(c) High interest
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Comments, including the form of support which is envisaged:
2.2
To what extent is the NREN willing to participate in, or help to facilitate, small scale network
trials and/or collaboration with mobile network operators and other wireless service
providers?
(a) Not willing
(b) Some interest in participating / facilitating
(c) Very willing
Comments, including any preference for particular technologies / nature of trials etc.:
Mobile Connectivity Feasibility Analysis
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Current Strategy
2.3
Please describe any existing mobile broadband services supported by your NREN,
highlighting the service provider(s) involved, the functionality and features supported, the
future capabilities of the service, and any other information considered relevant. In your
response please indicate the geographical area(s) covered by the service and, where possible,
the number of users including the number of any non-education users (where applicable).
2.4
In relation to Question 2.3 above, please describe how the infrastructure needed to deliver
the mobile broadband service(s) is provided (e.g. centrally provided by the NREN,
contributed by participating organisations, provided by the service provider(s)).
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2.5
In relation to Questions 2.3 and 2.4 above, please highlight any frustrations, shortcomings or
problems associated with the service(s).
2.6
To what extent are the issues identified in your response to Question 2.5 due to the limited
availability of higher throughput/download rates? Are there particular geographic areas
which are particularly affected?
2.7
Is voice (other than VoIP) supported by any of your existing mobile services?
Yes
No
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If so, please provide details including service provider(s):
2.8
Where your NREN operates a service on behalf of member organisations, is the finance
required provided from a central fund or do member organisations fund their own
arrangements? Does any funding come directly from staff / students, through service
charges? Please provide as much detail as possible.
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Trials
2.9
Please provide details of any mobile broadband trials, planned or ongoing, where the NREN
has provided, or intends to provide, financial and/or technical assistance. Please indicate the
technology / technologies involved, and, where possible, provide feedback on the outcomes of
the trial and any additional information which may inform the mobile connectivity feasibility
analysis.
National Context
2.10 Please highlight the general availability of 3G and 4G mobile broadband services within
your jurisdiction. In relation, do you foresee any opportunity for collaboration with industry
to co-develop mobile data connectivity solution(s) for education and general commercial use
(e.g. in the form of a consortium with ISPs, telecoms service providers)?
2.11 Please detail any other local engagement with industry or the National Regulatory Authority
(NRA), in relation to building or licensing of a solution to provide coverage in campus and/or
near campus areas. In relation, are there any legislative issues affecting current or planned
deployments?
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Strategic Priorities
2.12 When considering the development of any future national deployments to support a PanEuropean mobile data connectivity solution, please indicate the level of importance placed
against each of the following criteria:
Coverage
(a) Very important
(b) Important
(c) Some importance
(d) Low importance




Comments, including as much detail as possible (including extent of
international coverage (roaming) desired):
Bandwidth (Upload / Download)
(a) Very important
(b) Important
(c) Some importance
(d) Low importance



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Comments, including as much detail as possible:
Cost
(a) Very important
(b) Important
(c) Some importance
(d) Low importance



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Comments, including as much detail as possible:
Download limits (data cap)
(a) Very important
(b) Important
(c) Some importance
(d) Low importance
Comments, including as much detail as possible:
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2.13 Please provide feedback on the functionality and features the NREN considers should be
incorporated into any future Pan-European mobile connectivity solution.
(a) Facilitates the use of new mobile devices
Comments:
(b) Supports virtual learning environment for
”next generation” teaching, learning and research
Comments:
(c) Supports access to administration tools,
including scheduling and timetables
Comments:
(d) Support access to library services
Comments:
(e) Supports content delivery from the cloud
Comments:
(f) Ensures secure and reliable access to
education and research resources
Comments:
(g) Other functionality and features which should
be incorporated, or are desirable:
Comments:
2.14 When considering the development of any future national deployments to support a PanEuropean mobile data connectivity solution, please indicate the level of importance placed on
voice being an integral part. In other words, do you consider any future solution should
incorporate voice and data services?
Voice and data
(a) Very important
(b) Important
(c) Some importance
(d) Low importance
Comments, including whether you consider voice services should be
provided as an option to users:
Mobile Connectivity Feasibility Analysis
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2.15 To what extent does the NREN consider it beneficial to potentially allow other users to access
any future solution (e.g. other public sector users, emergency services, commercial users)?
Please indicate the rationale to support your comments, and highlight any principles which
you consider should apply to such access (e.g. service separation, commercial terms).
2.16 Does the NREN consider any future solution as being potentially complementary to industry
plans, e.g. potential use of Wi-Fi infrastructure for mobile broadband traffic offload? How
does the NREN think GÉANT should engage with the industry, and what other potential
synergies do you consider relevant?
2.17 To what extent do you think any future solution should use, or benefit from, existing NREN
or GÉANT partner infrastructure (dark fibre, vertical infrastructure etc.)?
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2.18 To what extent is the NREN willing to manage the delivery and operation of any future
solution?
(a) Willing to manage many aspects
Comments:
(b) Willing to manage some aspects
Comments:
(c) Not willing to manage any aspect and prefers
a completely outsourced solution
Comments:
2.19 Please comment on how any future solution might be funded (centrally, locally by member
organisations etc.). Please also comment on the charging principles which could apply (flat
fee, differential pricing according to service, package, QoS etc.).
2.20 Please highlight any legislative issues or concerns you consider may be relevant to the
deployment of any future solution, either at a national or EU level?
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Eduroam
2.21 Please provide details of the availability of the eduroam mobility service in your country,
indicating the number of institutions where eduroam is available and the extent to which it is
available at all locations within a given institution.
2.22 Where supporting information is readily available, please indicate the number of users of the
eduroam service within your jurisdiction, broken down by institution where possible.
2.23 Where supporting information is readily available, to what extent is national roaming used
to provide the eduroam service within your jurisdiction?
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2.24 Where supporting information is readily available, when eduroam users within your
jurisdiction roam internationally do users typically travel to geographically adjacent
jurisdictions or to other European destinations?
2.25 What work is being done, or is being planned, to expand the eduroam user base? Do these
plans involve extending coverage and/or extending the service to secondary level institutions
or potentially other user groups?
2.26 Please provide details of how the eduroam service is marketed within your jurisdiction, and
does the NREN consider there to be a role for industry to help market and promote the
service?
2.27 What value do you perceive the eduroam brand as having? Do you consider there is benefit
in investing in the eduroam brand?
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Additional comments
2.28 Please provide any additional comments you consider relevant to the mobile connectivity
feasibility analysis.
2.29 Respondents are asked to provide their name and contact details, as we may wish to followup to understand responses in more detail or to discuss this work further. However,
respondents are under no obligation to provide their name or contact details and in such
cases should leave their response blank.
Yes
No


If so please provide contact details of the responsible member of staff, including telephone number and
email address:
Mobile Connectivity Feasibility Analysis