Why WiMax (still) is dead
Posted on | February 9, 2010 | 1 Comment
Recently, we have been asked again about the role of WiMax (802.16) in rural and remote networks.
In brief, we still think it is not a preferred option, and here is why:
- Price: Simply, for what it can do – it is too expensive. Smart use of cheaper technologies, and upcoming improvements of existing standards, see e.g. Ubiqiti’s AirMax technology, can deliver the same performance at lower prices.
- Focus Area: In our view, WiMax’s strength are infrastructure networks in densely populated areas, with massively multipath non-line-of-sight conditions. Where line of sight is free, or just moderately obscured, WIMAX does not connect you any better, neither with respect to bandwidth nor stability, than its cheaper competitors. Where line of sight is seriously blocked for a long haul link – neither WiMax nor WiFi will get you around that.
- Clients: 802.11 clients are ubiquitous in todays’ end user devices – there is hardly a laptop or smart phone that comes without WiFi. WiMax however is absent – it would have to be added as CPE device for each and every user, again bringing up the price for hardware and deployment.
- Competition: For long range infrastructure networks, WIMAX is beaten by WiFi and other, proprietary standards. For highly mobile urban roaming, mobile data (3G etc) wins. So, what market niche is left for WiMax?
These are just a few (simplified) points in an discussion.
No doubt, there will be networks where WIMAX is chosen, and where budgets allow, there is nothing seriously wrong with that.
For low cost rural networks however, and for rural business to make sense – there is better choices.
We will be discussing these issues again at the upcoming ICTP-ITU school on wireless, at ICTP Trieste.
Berkman Center study on global broadband names Open Access as key in broadband success
Posted on | October 16, 2009 | No Comments
The draft report is open for comment here:
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/newsroom/broadband_review_draft
From the report:
“Our most surprising and significant finding is that ‘open access’ policies—unbundling, bitstream access, collocation requirements, wholesaling, and/or functional separation—are almost universally understood as having played a core role in the first generation transition to broadband [dial-up to broadband] in most of the high performing countries; that they now play a core role in planning for the next generation transition [faster and always available connectivity]; and that the positive impact of such policies is strongly supported by the evidence of the first generation broadband transition.”
Further more:
“We find that in countries where an engaged regulator enforced open access obligations, competitors that entered using these open access facilities provided an important catalyst for the development of robust competition which, in most cases, contributed to strong broadband performance across a range of metrics.”
Nepal Wireless Workshop, September 2009 – Pictures
Posted on | October 16, 2009 | No Comments
252 pictures from the Nepal Wireless Workshop, September 2009, are now available here -
a detailed report soon to be available.
2 Million downloads for the “green book”
Posted on | October 13, 2009 | No Comments
Wireless Networking in the Developing World is a free book about designing, implementing, and maintaining low-cost wireless networks.
Since 2008, WNDW.net has served over two million downloads of the book! WNDW is available for free in seven languages. If you haven’t checked it out already, download a copy for yourself.
Interview on freifunk.net
Posted on | October 11, 2009 | No Comments
On freifunk and community networking, in german:
Wireless Networking in the Developing World – now in print in 6 languages
Posted on | October 7, 2009 | No Comments
The book WNDW is now in print in 6 languages! English, French, Spanish,
Portuguese, Arabic, and now Indonesian. Here's a picture of 5 out of 6 versions
wndw in 5 languages
Read more:
Wireless workshop, Nepal, Pokhara, 14-24 September
Posted on | October 6, 2009 | No Comments
A workshop on (not only) wireless networking in Pokhara, Sept 14-24, organized by
brings together about 30 participants from a.o. the Nepal Wireless villages, the Nepal NREN, ISOC Nepal, supporters and activists.
The first 5 days will be classroom/lab training, followed by deployments in 2-3 villages.
The workshop aims at
- preparing the next phases of the Nepal Wireless network extension
- empowering villagers to run and maintian their own networks
- establishing a series of upcoming training events, by training future trainers and assembling a training hardware kit.
The workshop agenda (changes possible) is at
https://ws.edu.isoc.org/trac/wirelessu/wiki/PokharaWorkshopCurriculum
Sengerema Shared Mesh Network – Tanzania’s first of a kind
Posted on | March 13, 2009 | No Comments
This project is already a bit older – it was implemented in October 2008.
But on the occasion of presenting it at the ICTP Wireless School, and because i feel honoured to have been able to be part of it -
here s a presentation of it -
pictures mostly, but with many links for further reading.
And in case you are interested, or would like a higher resolution version of this file, just mail me at sebastian_at_wire.less.dk.
sengerema_mesh_network_ictp_2009_compressed
Here’s a few more links for further reading:
- http://www.iicd.org/articles/launch-of-wireless-internet-in-sengerema-tanzania/
- http://www.telecentre.org/profiles/blogs/people-with-disabilities-hails
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/92524047@N00/sets/72157608483292411/
- http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=05FB7BB1F04C89DC
- http://www.swopnet.or.tz/docs/sengeremawirelessshared.pdf
In one of the URLs cited, Miep Lenoir (IICD) writes:
“Tanzania Telecentre Network (TTN) builds a wireless internet network in Sengerema. It is the first wireless community network in Tanzania, making internet available and affordable to a large number of people living in rural areas.
In the first phase, the wireless network connects six community organisations to the internet. In phase 2 and 3, it aims to connect all wards in Sengerema District. The community network will be officially launched on the 26 October at Sengerema Telecentre Mwanza Tanzania.
The first phase of the wireless network is built during a workshop from 20th – 25th October, 2008 at Sengerema Telecentre Mwanza Tanzania. The Workshop is being organized by TTN with support from IICD (International Institute for Communication and Development). The Tanzania Telecentre Network was established in 2007 by several telecentre managers for the purpose of creating a platform that facilitates knowledge sharing and capacity building on relevant content, technical skills and sustainability of telecentres. An important variable in a sustainable business model for telecentres are the costs for internet connectivity. For this purpose TTN had decided to pilot with a business model in which the costs for internet connectivity are shared with several stakeholders in the community by a wireless network.”
South African communications regulator (ICASA) confiscating social entrepreneur Dabba’s WiFi equipment – Media Coverage
Posted on | February 19, 2009 | No Comments
Here is a link collection regarding the case of South African communications regulator (ICASA) having sent their enforcers in to confiscate social entrepreneur Dabba’s WiFi equipment.
Village Telco Google Group Thread on Dabba Wifi Confiscation
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Dabba’s site:
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Steve Song writes at Many Possibilities blog, 18 February 2009:
http://manypossibilities.net/2009/02/icasa-stealing-from-aids-orphans/
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Technology news site ITWeb writes, 18 February 2009:
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2009/0902181040.asp?A=ITG&S=IT%20in%20Government
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ICASA defends confiscation
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2009/0902201038.asp?S=Legal%20View&A=LEG&O=FRGN
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newstoday.co.za
http://www.newstoday.co.za/cgi-bin/newstoday/show.pl?1235230773
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ongoing discussion at itweb:
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/feedback/feedcopy.asp?storyid=193880
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David Rowe writes:
Prototype Village Telco Raided
February 24th, 2009
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27 february, 2009:
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The tide begins to turn:
ICASA’s Orange Farm seizure illegal?
23 March 2009
[ Johannesburg, 23 March 2009 ] – Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) inspectors, who confiscated telecoms equipment from an Aids orphanage, an Internet cafe and a skills centre in Orange Farm last month, ignored key parts of telecommunications legislation and proper procedure.
Staff at all three sites confirmed to ITWeb last week that the inspectors arrived at each location on 13 February, stating that equipment had to be confiscated because of “interference” with a Telkom link.
Staff at the sites also say inspectors failed to provide receipts for the seized equipment on the day, instead returning three weeks later with the correct forms.
Wireless Networking in the Developing World
Posted on | September 1, 2008 | 1 Comment
wndw - arabic edition
“Wireless Networking in the Developing World”,
published in 1st edition 2006, 2nd edition 2008, and freely available under a Creative Commons license.
Recent posts
- Why WiMax (still) is dead
- Berkman Center study on global broadband names Open Access as key in broadband success
- Nepal Wireless Workshop, September 2009 – Pictures
- 2 Million downloads for the “green book”
- Interview on freifunk.net
- Wireless Networking in the Developing World – now in print in 6 languages
- Wireless workshop, Nepal, Pokhara, 14-24 September
