RemIX – Internet Exchange for Rural Areas – from Scotland is one of the five winners of the European Broadband Awards 2016 and offers an affordable technical solution for Internet connectivity in rural areas.
The project adapts components, standards and technologies in the desired target environment, enabling easy transfer of the model. The innovative project has developed a unique distributed Internet Exchange Point (IXP) for remote and rural networks in Scotland and the UK, ensuring a future-proof infrastructure and quality of service for internet connectivity.
The Scottish Highlands and Islands, where RemIX is currently being implemented, consist of mountainous terrain stretching along a 400 km north-south corridor. Such regions often lack the necessary broadband infrastructure found in central urban areas. RemIX, as a distributed and wireless Internet Exchange Point (IXP), mirrors the advantages of IXPs of urban regions into underserved areas. Within the project, a high quality backhaul network will be established in remote areas. This ensures cost-effective backhaul connectivity for small access networks and their autonomy. The sustainability of the network is also guaranteed.
The RemIX architecture is innovative in the sense that it does not have a large facility or physical housing. Instead, it is distributed so that Points of Presence (POP) can be established where there are fewer than two members. Members collocate their border routers either with the switch or at the remote end of a link, depending on local conditions. The RemIX architecture is recognizable because it uses familiar components, standards and technologies that are adapted for the target environment.
The project won the European Broadband Award 2016 in the Future-proof and quality of service category. It is already in commercial use.
Do you think that your broadband expansion project should be presented to a wider audience?
Once again this year, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technologies (DG Connect) is looking for successfully implemented public or private projects of all sizes and technologies in all regions of Europe. The winners will be honored by the Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society at the Broadband Day in Brussels in November. The deadline for applications is September 7, 2017.
European Broadband Award Categories
European Broadband Awards will be presented this year in the following 5 categories:
- Innovative models of financing, business and investment
- Cost reduction and co-investment in a future proof infrastructure
- Territorial cohesion in rural and remote areas
- Socio-economic impact and affordability
- Openness and competition
How and when do I apply?
The first step is to download the application form. You will receive explanatory notes on the individual fields within the application form in a guide. In the second step, complete the application form and send it back to broadband@aconium.eu as an Excel file. The application deadline is September 7, 2017, 16:00 CET.
Benefits
The winners will be awarded by the Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society at the Broadband Day in Brussels on November 20, 2017.
The winners will be presented on the DG Connect websites, in the newsletter and in the media. All projects that have applied will be included in the Broadband Europe good practice database.
Further information and support
The European Broadband Awards are organized by the European Commission (DG Connect, CNECT-B5@ec.europa.eu) with the support of aconium GmbH.
aconium GmbH
Tel: +49 30 6098990 19
broadband@aconium.eu