Leapfrogging the Infrastructure in Developing Countries

Transcription

1 Leapfrogging the Infrastructure in Developing Countries May 17, 2006 Phil Belanger

2 Leapfrogging Agenda Leapfrogging Agenda Background Which technology? Why? Examples Future

3 Background Decoding the Title Leapfrogging the infrastructure? What does it mean? Using wireless technology to build alternate communications infrastructure. Using wireless to extend existing communications infrastructure. To connect to the Internet. To communicate with others.

4 Background Who is Phil? I am a technologist. 25+ years computer networking Software development, network protocols And later Marketing! Co-authored DFWMAC protocol which is the basis for the MAC standard Co-founder and initial Chairman of the Wi-Fi Alliance Mr. Wi-Fi Zilog, Corvus, Adaptec, Xircom (now Intel), Aironet (now Cisco), Wayport, Vivato, BelAir Networks Just starting Novarum Wireless broadband consulting and analyst firm Doing a wireless broadband study in North America Comparing Wi-Fi, Cellular Data networks and eventually WiMAX

5 Background What s the answer? How do you leapfrog the infrastructure? The answer is Wi-Fi. Use Wi-Fi technology to build alternate communications infrastructure. Extended coverage Wi-Fi Mesh Point to point and point to multi-point links Use Wi-Fi to extend existing communications infrastructure. Wi-Fi clouds at the edge.

6 Why Wi-Fi? Why Wi-Fi? Technology Economics Regulatory

7 Technology Wi-Fi for communications infrastructure? Isn t it a Local Area Network? Indoors, 50 meter range 2 Mbps, 11 Mbps to 54 Mbps

8 Wi-Fi Advances Wi-Fi Advances Large coverage outdoor products Wi-Fi Mesh Voice over Wi-Fi Dual mode Wi-Fi Cellular handsets Enhanced security n MIMO Throughput greater than 100 Mbps Better link margin

9 Wi-Fi is mature technology. Wi-Fi Economics Wi-Fi Economics IEEE b standard was completed in A variety of Wi-Fi chipsets and radio components are available. There is a healthy ecosystem for Wi-Fi based products and accesories. Antennas, enclosures, amplifiers The cost of a Wi-Fi client is approaching zero. Wi-Fi technology is built into many client devices. PCs, phones, toys, home entertainment

10 Regulatory Wi-Fi operates in unlicensed bands 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 2.4 GHz is available worldwide Harmonized, unlicensed use 5 GHz is available in many parts of the world. Efforts are underway to open up and harmonize Will take years In some countries, more unlicensed spectrum is available at 5 GHz

11 What about other wireless technologies? Cellular Bluetooth Ultra Wide Band WiMAX

12 Cellular Infrastructure? Cellular Infrastructure? Operates in licensed spectrum Therefore expensive But no interference and no sharing Expensive infrastructure equipment Base stations and towers Newer cellular technologies support IP So potential for broadband data + voice Capacity limited Narrow channels, few channels Expensive to scale up capacity Voice client is universal and low cost Data client expensive

13 Bluetooth Bluetooth, UWB? Bluetooth, UWB? Unlicensed 2.4 GHz Low cost client, built in to many devices But performance too limited Ultra Wide Band Not standardized yet Not available worldwide High throughput, short range

14 WiMAX? WiMAX? IEEE Global standard and designed as a MAN Many different frequency bands The first wave of interoperable products are just coming to market now. Fixed wireless, point to point and point to multi-point Base station plus fixed client box Mostly licensed bands 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz 5 GHz is also possible Mobile WiMAX, e, coming in a few years Client built into laptops and phones WiMAX will do a better job supporting voice than Wi-Fi Wi-Fi will do a better job operating in the unlicensed bands lacks some spectrum sharing features, these are being added

15 Which Technology? Which Technology? UWB and Bluetooth won t work. Cellular infrastructure too expensive. For alternative infrastructure WiMAX has potential, but It is primarily licensed bands It is more expensive than Wi-Fi It is not really ready Fixed WiMAX now shipping, mobile coming later Maybe in a few years Wi-Fi is the technology of choice for alternate wireless infrastructure.

16 Why Wi-Fi? Why Wi-Fi? Broadband performance 11 Mbps to 54 Mbps 5 Mbps to 20 Mbps useful capacity Unlicensed operation Available throughout the world Wi-Fi handles interference gracefully Wi-Fi shares the spectrum effectively Low cost Client cost very low Consumer, enterprise and carrier class infrastructure No license required Scalable No infra-structure required Ad-hoc, peer to peer networks with a few nodes Or a single access point connected to infrastructure. Or outdoor large coverage APs with mesh

17 Cost of Wi-Fi Infrastrcuture Cost of Wi-Fi Infrastrcuture Depends on number of users supported Depends on topography More infrastructure nodes required for rough terrain or large buildings A few hundred dollars per square mile Up to A hundred thousand dollars per square mile

18 Mesh Cluster Single Radio Mesh clusters Usually 4 or 5 nodes per cluster One node has backhaul out of cluster Mesh routing determines best path to wired node Capacity is roughly 2 Mbps for entire cluster 20 nodes per square mile 5 Mbps per square mile Less than $2K per node Under $40K per square mile

19 Dual Radio Mesh Cluster Dual Radio Mesh Cluster Separate client access from mesh interconnection and backhaul Usually 5 GHz shared backhaul network 2.4 GHz client access Roughly 20 Mbps capacity for a square mile Around $3K per node Under $60K per square mile

20 Higher Capacity Square Mile Higher Capacity Square Mile Multi radio mesh 2.4 GHz for client access 5 GHz or licensed for backhaul Each node has at least one dedicated backhaul link Back haul links are not shared Dedicated point to point links Backhaul could be WiMAX System Capacity 75 Mbps per square mile Add more wired backhaul links to increase capacity Around $6K per node $120K per square mile 2.4 GHz wireless coverage

21 Examples Share a single satellite link to a village One Wi-Fi AP supports multiple clients Or Use outdoor AP to cover entire village Point to point wireless links from wired location to remote sites Variants of Wi-Fi, moving to WiMAX Residential internet access for entire town Build a Wi-Fi cloud with outdoor mesh APs

22 Examples - olpc One Laptop per Child The $100 laptop Wi-Fi built in b/g Mesh software Create ad-hoc networks with other laptops Connect to Wi-Fi infrastructure

23 Future Voice will become an important application for large Wi-Fi nets. Large muni Wi-Fi networks will continue to spread. Price of infrastructure equipment will decline More capable infrastructure equipment emerges In developed countries these will be mostly commercial networks. Handling multiple applications and services Both commercial and public networks will use a mix of unlicensed Wi-Fi and licensed wireless technologies. Wi-Fi will be common at the edge. WiMAX to backhaul Wi-Fi mesh clusters. Neither technology will win, both will prosper.

24 YES! Conclusion Is it possible to leapfrog? Alternate wireless infrastructure Wireless extensions to fixed infrastructure The technology is available. Need people, money and the VISION to do it. Thank You.

25 Resources Wi-Fi Alliance WiMAX Forum olpc - one laptop per child The $100 laptop W2i, Wireless Internet Institute Wi-Fi Networking News Great daily reporting on Wi-Fi technology MuniWireless Info on wireless RFPs and deployments Netgate On-line reseller for open source, build it yourself, low cost, high performance Wi-Fi Coming soon the $150 high power, high gain outdoor AP Terrawave Distributor focused on wireless More commercial, broad product portfolio, excellent wireless expertise

26 Leapfrogging the Infrastructure in Developing Countries Phil Belanger Managing Director, Novarum Cutting through the wireless noise.