July 1st, 2010 - Covage was awarded a contract by social housing group Vilogia Horizon SA le Foyer to deploy and activate a fibre-to-the-home network in 1056 social housing flats in Angouleme. The contract will be implemented by Solstice Grand Angouleme, Covage’s subsidiary operating the fibre metropolitan area network in Angouleme community.
Telecoms, Energy efficiency and Digital Television
The project aims to satisfy several new needs of the social housing:
- To offer ultra high-speed broadband at affordable price
- To broadcast digital high-definition TV in the flats
- To provide a solution for energy and water consumption management
End-to-end offer
In a unique combination, Covage will enable service providers to offer an array of services using the optic fibre network.
Tenants will access digital terrestrial TV in standard and high-definition format directly from the optical terminal in their homes.
Internet access providers will offer basic and enhanced packages of internet access and telephony. The enhanced package will include a 100Mbps internet access and unlimited telephone calls to Europe.
Several local operators are considering offering new services such as premium TV packages or assistance to the elderly.
All tenants will be able to chose their service provider and their services packages. TV and energy management services will be provided free of charge to all tenants. Internet access packages will be optional.
Fibre optic and Energy Efficiency
The energy consumption management system will be deployed by BPL Global and will operate in synergy with the fibre optic network. Existing water meters will be replaced by smart meters and temperature sensors will be installed in each apartment. Data will be collected and transmitted over the fibre optic network to the service provider. Each tenant will have access to information on water consumption and temperature in the flat. The landlord will also have a vision of the energy and water consumption of each flat and will be able to react to an abnormal consumption level.
Covage open access FTTH model
Covage has designed a solution for a neutral open access active FTTH network. The network will be open to every service provider in a non-discriminatory manner. This public-private partnership allows to offer services to a large public:
- Consumers can access broadband services and choose their service provider
- Communities can develop their economies and offer services to all citizens
- Social housing companies can increase the value of their properties by better controlling energy consumption and being closer to their tenants’ needs
Covage and Vilogia Horizon SA le Foyer share the vision that ultra high-speed broadband combined with sustainable development is the guaranty of a long term solution for the social housing company to defend its property value and increase its attractiveness to tenants.