The Nybro model - common operating network with Wireless Fiber
Nybro is located at the heart of Sweden’s glassworks industry. This means that creativity and innovation are an integral part of people’s daily lives, whether it be individuals, businesses or municipal operations. The focus on Wireless Fiber is a good example of this. By daring to try something new, Nybro residents received effective broadband expansion to rural areas as well as an integrated network of water and waste water, electrical and IT systems. This has led to improved public services and quality of life – at a cost that is around 60 per cent lower than for underground fibers.
Nybro Municipality has about 25,000 inhabitants and is the centre of the ‘Kingdom of Crystal’ between Kalmar and Växjö. Nybro is divided into nine districts that are spread out over a relatively large area. The vision is about sustainability in all respects – ecologically, economically, culturally and socially. The municipality must offer fast broadband to all residents in order to live up to this. This includes those who live in rural and remote areas, where it is often expensive and difficult to put the fiber underground. The municipality had independent fiber loops, but these were not connected to the municipal fiber networks. They also wanted to own their infra-structure and communication equipment.
Common operating network for municipal departments
The project began when Nybro’s water department needed to improve mobile coverage in order to communicate with lone workers out on location. When that went well and they had a greater understanding of the opportunities Wireless Fiber offers, they went ahead and decided to link the Wireless Fiber structure with the municipality’s independent fiber loops. It was an initiative designed to future-proof the structure of the various municipal departments in terms of both technology and economy. This resulted in a joint operating network for municipal water and waste water, IT and district heating facilities. Each department, however, has its own network in the common structure.
Fast broadband in rural areas
Wireless Fiber means that all who live and work in rural areas have access to the same good quality broadband coverage as those living in big cities. In this way, schools and nurseries can use interactive educational material. Health centres can provide e-health. People can surf and use social media. In short – thanks to Wireless Fiber – everyone in Nybro can live a full digital life.
Fast and economical project
In addition to specific user benefits, there are two major advantages of Wireless Fiber. Firstly, the project time is short and efficient. In Nybro, the project ran between April and August. The corresponding time for terrestrial fibers is estimated to be more than a year. Secondly, Wireless Fiber is economically advantageous, with around 60 per cent lower cost compared to conventional fiber.