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11
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
World Class ICT
Mission – Meraka InstituteMission – Meraka Institute
Economy Quality of Life
People
Research & Innovation
Skills Quantity
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
Open Source Centre
Application Innovation
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
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
PhDsAddress skills gaps:- Programmers- FOSS project managers
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
Application Innovation
Technology Research
World class needs based research in particular research areas
Application of ICTs to “digital divide” related problems
Meraka Projects/GroupsMeraka Projects/Groups
Open Source Centre
Stimulate the adoption of FLOSS in Africa
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline
• Evolution of connectivity• New paradigm (mesh)• What options exist?• Case study
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
ConnectivityConnectivity
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• Why connect?
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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ConnectivityConnectivity
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PTP Lin
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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ConnectivityConnectivity
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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ConnectivityConnectivity
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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ConnectivityConnectivity
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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ConnectivityConnectivity
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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Connectivity - brokerConnectivity - broker
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Broker aka “the router”
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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Connectivity - operatorConnectivity - operator
House
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Router
Internet
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Router
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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Connectivity – operator blues!Connectivity – operator blues!
House
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Router
Ouch! No service! What happens now?
Internet
Client
Router
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
House
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Connectivity – mesh paradigmConnectivity – mesh paradigm
House
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Client/router
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
Pretoria MeshPretoria Mesh
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
Case Studies – Mpumalanga meshCase Studies – Mpumalanga mesh
+
+
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
Case Studies – Mpumalanga meshCase Studies – Mpumalanga mesh
The movie!The movie!
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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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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SANGONeT Conference & Exhibition “ICTs for Civil Society”
7-9 March 2006
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