Broadband

SCCI Alphatrack’s IRiS systems provide broadband access to every resident in a block of flats via their communal Integrated Reception (TV) system without the need for the running of additional cables into dwellings and with absolutely minimal disruption to residents.

Our IRiS solution guarantees excellent broadband speed and delivery rates and can be retrofitted into existing IRS systems or incorporated into the design of pending IRS system installations.

Why have we developed this solution?

There have been a number of recent studies around the benefits of Digital Inclusion in the UK, all of which have concluded that Landlords must do more to promote digital services and internet accessibility.

Paul Murphy (Minister for Digital Inclusion) set out his findings October 2008 via his report Delivering Digital Inclusion: An Action Plan for Consultation. More recently, Lord Carter also set out an ambitious set of goals in The Digital Britain Project - Final Report. Earlier this year the 2010 Action Plan from the Social Housing Providers and Digital Inclusion Strategy Group chaired by Helen Milner (MD, UK online centres) delivers a further series of messages around the importance of internet to the community and particularly those in the most vulnerable groups.

Research shows 70% (Source: Office of National Statistics, 2008) of people who live in Social Housing do not use the internet. This represents the largest group in the digitally excluded population.

That means they’re missing out on all the benefits, opportunities and conveniences that computers and the internet can provide, such as:

Landlord services (e.g. reporting repairs, direct email communication with residents)
Entertainment on demand (e.g. TV, music & films)
Information services (e.g. weather & travel)
Interactive services
E-Commerce (e.g. shopping, booking and banking on line)
Job searches and applications
Social media & networking

SCCI Alphatrack’s IRiS solution was developed especially for our Registered Social Landlord clients in order to give them a very cost effective and simple solution for making the internet available for ALL of their tenants and leaseholder, including those in the most vulnerable groups of society.

How do the systems work

An internet line will be fed into the system at the TV Head-end unit (see left) Upstream & Downstream link or via a traditional land-based provider such as BT.

The system is firewalled to ensure security and integrity.

Broadband signals are carried from the head-end along the existing IRS TV coax cables and into the wall-plate within the dwelling and then into a modem within the dwelling.

Broadband connectivity will be made available to all users within the block WITHOUT the need for a standard BT line. Note there will be a monthly charge for the broadband connection but this is likely to be far less per dwelling than if an individual resident were to set up their own connection directly with BT via a Telephone landline.

Up to (XX?) broadband devices, such as TV, Smart Meters & Appliances, Laptops & PCs and Games consoles can be connected either wirelessly or via a wired connection to the modem (see right).

Costs & Applications

We have developed a number of funding options for our clients, including options for totally landlord funded internet services and those which allow residents to contribute directly towards both the initial set-up costs and the on-going broadband line rental.

As SCCI Alphatrack’s unique IRiS system requires no additional cabling into residents’ flats, the installation is straight forward and non-intrusive and can be retrofitted into blocks that already have a digital IRS TV system installed or where one is about to be installed.

System security/managing usage

All systems are monitored remotely by our IRIS Service team, allowing us to monitor performance and usage of the system without the need to visit site.

The system is fully encrypted and firewalled to maintain system security and to ensure no external access into the local network.

Service & Maintenance

The internet element of the system will be maintained fully within the maintenance package taken by the landlord to support the main TV aerial system.

We will also provide residents with a dedicated access mechanism to report any internet related issues they are experiencing within their home.