Emerging Connectivity Options

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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”

7-9 March 2006

07 March 2006Sherrin Isaac

Wireless Africa

Emerging Connectivity OptionsEmerging Connectivity Options

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MerakaMeraka

The African Advanced Institute for ICT:The African Advanced Institute for ICT: Strategic purpose: Strategic purpose:

• Increase ICT R&D intensity and Increase ICT R&D intensity and beneficial impactbeneficial impact• SA and Africa scopeSA and Africa scope

Timeline:Timeline:• State of the Nation Address - February 2002State of the Nation Address - February 2002• Commencement of operations – 1 April 2005Commencement of operations – 1 April 2005• Launch 17 May 2005Launch 17 May 2005

Meraka = common grazing ground (Sesotho)Meraka = common grazing ground (Sesotho)• Shared space for creative productivityShared space for creative productivity• Emphasise African nature of scope and needsEmphasise African nature of scope and needs

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World Class ICT

Mission – Meraka InstituteMission – Meraka Institute

Economy Quality of Life

People

Research & Innovation

Skills Quantity

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Open Source Centre

Application Innovation

Technology Research

World class needs based research in particular research areas

Application of ICTs to “digital divide” related problems

Meraka StructureMeraka Structure

Stimulate the adoption of FLOSS in Africa

FLOSS R&D

“Open”… is the Meraka Ethos

Out there

Build capacity, effectiveness

Focus

Critical mass

Multidisciplinary

More direct impact

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Open Source Centre


Technology Research

Human Capital Development (HCD)

Visiting Experts / ScientistsPhD Innovation InternsMSc / MEng Innovation InternsICT Learners

PostDocsPhD Research InternsMSc / MEng Research Interns4th year / honours project students

Development of world class human capital



Meraka StructureMeraka Structure


FLOSS R&D

PhDsAddress skills gaps:- Programmers- FOSS project managers

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Technology Research



Meraka Projects/GroupsMeraka Projects/Groups

Open Source Centre


FLOSS R&D

OpenMentor – knowledge

OpenProject – develop tools

OpenSpeak – awareness

FLOSS R&D:

• Develop strategy

• Smartcards, etc.

Human Language Technology

ICT 4 Earth Observation

Remote sensing

High Performance Computing

Artificial Intelligence

Large scale data sets

Digital Doorway

National Accessibility Portal

ICT 4 SMME

Wireless Africa

• Community Owned Info Nets

• First Mile First Inch

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Wireless AfricaWireless Africa Impact: communications and applications Impact: communications and applications

serving the needs of rural communitiesserving the needs of rural communities Method: Method:

• Use existing technology innovativelyUse existing technology innovatively• Change paradigm to first mileChange paradigm to first mile• Bottom-up creation: involve communityBottom-up creation: involve community

Research:Research:• Wireless meshWireless mesh

Cantennas, MIMO, Business models, TestbedsCantennas, MIMO, Business models, Testbeds• Wireless securityWireless security• Explore tech and social consequencesExplore tech and social consequences

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Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

• Evolution of connectivity• New paradigm (mesh)• What options exist?• Case study

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ConnectivityConnectivity

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• Why connect?

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Connectivity - brokerConnectivity - broker

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Broker aka “the router”

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Connectivity - operatorConnectivity - operator

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Connectivity – operator blues!Connectivity – operator blues!

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Ouch! No service! What happens now?

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Connectivity - the problemConnectivity - the problem

• Fixed line penetration less than 10% and dropping … ICASA, July’05

• unacceptable situation in which some of our fixed line charges are 10x those of developed (OECD) countries … President Mbeki, Feb’05

• Success with mobile phone penetration – still 6% of population not covered … Arthur Goldstuck, Dec’04

• Due to the high levels of wage and wealth disparities in South Africa, operators are reluctant to adequately roll out infrastructure in the low income and under-serviced areas … HSRC‘01

• Cost of ‘broadband’: R500 per month with 1 Gigabyte usage limit, if you are in the coverage areas … University of Johannesburg, Oct’05

• Many years of R&D in low cost connectivity, but the problems stay the same

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Meraka - research programmeMeraka - research programmeRemoving the barriers to enable

bottom-up creation of access infrastructure

1. Futures and foresight– Urban revolution– Rural evolution

2. Technology research– Mesh networks– VoIP in a mesh– Low cost devices– Antennas– Self-configuration– Security

3. Business/Regulatory models– Community ownership– Open hardware– Alternative spectrum management

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Connectivity – mesh paradigmConnectivity – mesh paradigm

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Paradigm shiftParadigm shift

• From operator/telco model to user-deployed and user-owned grassroots infrastructure– Community owned– Each node is a client & router– No monthly subs or usage fee for

local ‘calls’ – infrastructure belongs to the users

– Cost sharing if ≥ 1 breakouts• True “common grazing ground”

- free information infrastructure

• Last mile => First mile

Wireless Mesh

Internet

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Pretoria MeshPretoria Mesh

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Wireless mesh animationWireless mesh animation

Pretoria meshPretoria mesh

• Hills, trees and buildings can block the links

• See how nodes discover each other and establish a link

• Omni antennas –circular wave propagation

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Connectivity optionsConnectivity options

• Options:– ADSL/telephone/WiMAX– Satellite/HAPS– Cellular (3G, HSPDA)– WiFi / infra-red– Wireless mesh

Depends on:Depends on:• Existing connectivityExisting connectivity• Technological Technological

suitability/constraintssuitability/constraints• AffordabilityAffordability

Meraka focuses on: community owned wireless mesh

ADSL: R400 connection, R270 to R680 p.m.

Sat: R2800 connection, R1350pm, R1150/GB p.m.

Cell: R100 connection fee, R500/GB p.m.

Mesh: R1200 connection120

km

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Forms of “community networks”Forms of “community networks”

OwnershipOwnership• Private company for profitPrivate company for profit• Private company – not for profitPrivate company – not for profit• Public entity (municipality)Public entity (municipality)• Individual (community)Individual (community)

PricingPricing• Subscription / membership feeSubscription / membership fee• Usage feeUsage fee• FreeFree• Cross-subsidisationCross-subsidisation

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Case Studies – Mpumalanga meshCase Studies – Mpumalanga mesh

• Where? Peables valley (40mins NE of Nelspruit)

• Why? Connect ACTS clinic with hospice

• Why mesh? hilly, distance, low skill, “missing” nodes

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The movie!The movie!

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Lessons learntLessons learnt

How do you do setup?How do you do setup?• NeedNeed

Community with settled issues (ownership, pricing)Community with settled issues (ownership, pricing) Router, antenna, poles, drill, cable, powerRouter, antenna, poles, drill, cable, power expert expert

• http://wirelessafrica.meraka.org.za/wiki/index.php/Main_Pagehttp://wirelessafrica.meraka.org.za/wiki/index.php/Main_Page• http://thewirelessroadshow.orghttp://thewirelessroadshow.org

SurprisesSurprises• Lightning, power downs, windows junk, cantennas advertise Lightning, power downs, windows junk, cantennas advertise

to thievesto thieves• Reliability/participation of some of the communityReliability/participation of some of the community• Music downloads, voice communicationMusic downloads, voice communication• 192kB/s data download over 3 hops on cantenna192kB/s data download over 3 hops on cantenna

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ConclusionConclusion

Wireless Mesh is not the only optionWireless Mesh is not the only option• Meraka is interested in proliferation of mesh. Meraka is interested in proliferation of mesh.

How are they being used?How are they being used? What are the problems?What are the problems?

If you would like to develop your own mesh If you would like to develop your own mesh please contact Kobus Rouxplease contact Kobus Roux• Perhaps we can assistPerhaps we can assist• 012 841 4460012 841 4460• http://wirelessafrica.meraka.org.za/wiki/index.php/Main_Pagehttp://wirelessafrica.meraka.org.za/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Documents

Emerging Connectivity Options