Conceptual, Preliminary, and Detailed Designs

In our work with clients, we differentiate between conceptual, preliminary, and detailed designs.

The differences between the conceptual design typically completed in relation to broadband strategy development, the preliminary design work required to support detailed capital estimates, financial planning, and business plan development, and the detailed design that would be required to issue a construction RFP are significant, both in terms of accuracy and cost. In relation to fibre deployment, the differences between the design levels are illustrated in the figure below.

Conceptual level fibre costing estimates are based on combinations of route miles and overall lots serviced whereas conceptual wireless estimates are based on coverage estimates that assume uniform coverage within a given radius of the tower on which the antennas are located. At the preliminary design level, actual fibre routing is laid out in detail so that both material and the required civil works can be more accurately estimated. Preliminary designs on the wireless side consist of using sophisticated modelling software to estimate radiation patterns that account for regional topography and actual ground clutter to resolutions of 30m or less.

Business Cases and Business Plans

In our work with clients, we differentiate between the business case evaluations developed in relation to evaluating various strategy options and the Business Plan which, in essence, provides a blue blueprint or template for the implementation and operational startup. Comparative differences are evident in the business case and business plan excerpts appearing below.