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Emerging Connectivity Options

Wireless Africa. Emerging Connectivity Options. 07 March 2006 Sherrin Isaac. Meraka. The African Advanced Institute for ICT: Strategic purpose: Increase ICT R&D intensity and beneficial impact SA and Africa scope Timeline: State of the Nation Address - February 2002

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Emerging Connectivity Options

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  1. Wireless Africa Emerging Connectivity Options 07 March 2006 Sherrin Isaac

  2. Meraka The African Advanced Institute for ICT: • Strategic purpose: • Increase ICT R&D intensity and beneficial impact • SA and Africa scope • Timeline: • State of the Nation Address - February 2002 • Commencement of operations – 1 April 2005 • Launch 17 May 2005 • Meraka = common grazing ground (Sesotho) • Shared space for creative productivity • Emphasise African nature of scope and needs

  3. Skills Quantity Mission – Meraka Institute Economy Quality of Life World Class ICT Research & Innovation People

  4. Open Source Centre Technology Research Application Innovation Meraka Structure Application of ICTs to “digital divide” related problems World class needs based research in particular research areas 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

  5. Open Source Centre Technology Research Application Innovation Human Capital Development (HCD) Meraka Structure Application of ICTs to “digital divide” related problems World class needs based research in particular research areas Stimulate the adoption of FLOSS in Africa FLOSS R&D Development of world class human capital PhDsAddress skills gaps:- Programmers- FOSS project managers PostDocsPhD Research InternsMSc / MEng Research Interns4th year / honours project students Visiting Experts / ScientistsPhD Innovation InternsMSc / MEng Innovation InternsICT Learners

  6. Technology Research Open Source Centre Application Innovation Meraka Projects/Groups Application of ICTs to “digital divide” related problems World class needs based research in particular research areas Stimulate the adoption of FLOSS in Africa FLOSS R&D Human Language Technology ICT 4 Earth Observation Remote sensing High Performance Computing Artificial Intelligence Large scale data sets OpenMentor – knowledge OpenProject – develop tools OpenSpeak – awareness FLOSS R&D: • Develop strategy • Smartcards, etc. Digital Doorway National Accessibility Portal ICT 4 SMME Wireless Africa • Community Owned Info Nets • First Mile First Inch

  7. Wireless Africa • Impact: communications and applications serving the needs of rural communities • Method: • Use existing technology innovatively • Change paradigm to first mile • Bottom-up creation: involve community • Research: • Wireless mesh • Cantennas, MIMO, Business models, Testbeds • Wireless security • Explore tech and social consequences

  8. Presentation Outline • Evolution of connectivity • New paradigm (mesh) • What options exist? • Case study

  9. 2 1 Connectivity • Why connect?

  10. Connectivity 2 PTP Link 1

  11. 8 6 7 3 5 4 Connectivity 2 1

  12. Connectivity 8 6 2 7 3 5 1 4

  13. Connectivity 8 6 2 7 3 5 1 4

  14. Connectivity 8 6 2 7 3 5 1 4

  15. Connectivity 8 6 2 7 3 5 1 4

  16. Connectivity - broker 8 6 2 7 3 5 1 Broker aka “the router” 4

  17. Connectivity - operator 8 6 Client 2 7 3 5 Router Internet 1 4

  18. Connectivity – operator blues! Ouch! No service! What happens now? 8 6 Client 2 7 3 5 Router Internet 1 4

  19. Connectivity - 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

  20. Meraka - research programme Removing the barriers to enable bottom-up creation of access infrastructure • Futures and foresight • Urban revolution • Rural evolution • Technology research • Mesh networks • VoIP in a mesh • Low cost devices • Antennas • Self-configuration • Security • Business/Regulatory models • Community ownership • Open hardware • Alternative spectrum management

  21. Connectivity – mesh paradigm 8 6 2 7 Client/router 3 5 1 4

  22. Paradigm shift Wireless Mesh • 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 Internet

  23. Pretoria Mesh

  24. Wireless mesh animation Pretoria mesh • Hills, trees and buildings can block the links • See how nodes discover each other and establish a link • Omni antennas –circular wave propagation

  25. 120 km Connectivity options • Depends on: • Existing connectivity • Technological suitability/constraints • Affordability • Options: • ADSL/telephone/WiMAX • Satellite/HAPS • Cellular (3G, HSPDA) • WiFi / infra-red • 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. Meraka focuses on: community owned wireless mesh Mesh: R1200 connection

  26. Forms of “community networks” • Ownership • Private company for profit • Private company – not for profit • Public entity (municipality) • Individual (community) • Pricing • Subscription / membership fee • Usage fee • Free • Cross-subsidisation

  27. Case Studies – Mpumalanga mesh • Where? Peables valley (40mins NE of Nelspruit) • Why? Connect ACTS clinic with hospice • Why mesh? hilly, distance, low skill, “missing” nodes

  28. Case Studies – Mpumalanga mesh + +

  29. Case Studies – Mpumalanga mesh • The movie!

  30. Lessons learnt • How do you do setup? • Need • Community with settled issues (ownership, pricing) • Router, antenna, poles, drill, cable, power • expert • http://wirelessafrica.meraka.org.za/wiki/index.php/Main_Page • http://thewirelessroadshow.org • Surprises • Lightning, power downs, windows junk, cantennas advertise to thieves • Reliability/participation of some of the community • Music downloads, voice communication • 192kB/s data download over 3 hops on cantenna

  31. Conclusion • Wireless Mesh is not the only option • Meraka is interested in proliferation of mesh. • How are they being used? • What are the problems? • If you would like to develop your own mesh please contact Kobus Roux • Perhaps we can assist • 012 841 4460 • http://wirelessafrica.meraka.org.za/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

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