ask4 install a dedicated data network with access points in every unit in a development. This network provides occupiers with hugely fast data connections, now and in the future.

The ask4 broadband system is designed specifically to deliver business-class broadband Internet access. The system comprises category-5e UTP cabling linking data points in individual apartments, bedrooms or offices to peering-points located around the development. These peering-points are in turn linked back to a central site peering-point by a fibre optic backbone. Located at each of the ancillary peering-points is switching equipment that connects the customer to the network. Located at the site peering-point is equipment that connects the site’s fibre backbone to dark-fibre or free-space laser equipment, which connects the site to the Internet at massive speed. Also located in this area is sophisticated hardware that monitors and manages the system and which controls customer access to services.

Because the system is designed purely to deliver data and not other services such as telephone or television, it is far more robust and has a far higher capacity than composite services such as ADSL and cable TV. This means that the end-user gets a far-superior service and the developer does not have any management or maintenance issues.

As bandwidth demands increase over the next three to five years, the bandwidth delivered to end-users will be increased. Because the networks we install have significantly more capacity than is initially required, of the order of 1000 times, we are able to do this dynamically, without requiring any changes to the installed infrastructure. This means that we are able to continue to offer a world-beating service to end-users, without troubling the developer or site management company.