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AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
Eric M.K OsiakwanInternet Research
An innovative Internet access solution for schools and corporations in under-
served communities
Internet access for any school anywhere is the goal!
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
Proposal for sending Internet to any school anywhere in poor infrastructure Africa
Presentation Objective
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
• Access to the ‘net is a must-have• Lack of telecom infrastructure and “last-mile” solutions are tough challenges for African schools and corporates• Lack of funds (or lack of business case for funds)• Building infrastructure is time-consuming • Geographical barriers abound in providing nation-wide access• Human capital is almost zero
The Challenge
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02Tuesday, October 30, 2001
VOLTA TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY LTD (VOLTACOM)
21
UPPER WESTREGION
U PPE R EA ST
RE GION
NORTHERN REGION
BRONG-AHAFOREGION
ASHANTI REGION
W E STERN RE GION
CEN TRA L RE GIONGREATER ACCRA
REGION
EASTERN REGION
MAP OF THE VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY
OPGW LA YOUTIN GHANA
BOLGATANGA
SUBSTATION
SUBSTATION
TAMALE
TECHIMANSUBSTATION
SUNYANI SUBSTATION
KUMASISUBSTATION
OBUASISUBSTATION
NEW OBUASISUBSTATION
KOFORIDUA
TAFOSUBSTATION
NKAWKAW SUBSTATION
KONONGOSUBSTATION
DUNKWASUBSTATION
BOGOSOSUBSTATION
PRESTEA 161KVSUBSTATION
PRESTEA 225KVSUBSTATION TARKWA
SUBSTATION
TAKORADISUBSTATION
CAPE COASTSUBSTATION
WINNEBASUBSTATION
ACHIMOTASUBSTATION
VOLTASUBSTATION
NEW TEMA SUBSTATION
SMELTER SUBSTATION
ASIEKPE SUBSTATIONLOME (TOGO)SUBSTATION
KPONG GSAKOSOMBO GS
ABOBOSUBSTATION(COTE D’IVOIRE)
BAWKU SUBSTATION
DAPAONG (TOGO)SUBSTATION
HO (69KV)
KPEVE
KPANDU
ABOADZE G.S
WA
NAVRONGO
DORMAA
BEREKUM
WENCHI
MIM
LEGENDTRANSMISSIONLINES FITTEDWITH OPGW
TRANSMISSIONLINES -PLANNEDFOR FUTURE OPGW
TRANSMISSION LINESBEING CONSIDEREDFOR FUTURE OPGW
KINTAMPOBUI
BOLE
SAWLA
YENDI
HAN
TUMU
TO OUAGADOUGOU(BURKINA FASO)
• More than 20 WAN companies• Backbone – Voltacom, GT• Wireless access methods mostly 2.4G centered in Accra, Kumasi• Lastmile monthly cost for dedicated access range from $300 - $1,800• Narrowband over Cu is very poor
Credit - VRA
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
“The Quandary”
Poor or non-existent telecom infrastructure.
Inability to create centralised/distributed/remote access computing for: point-of-sale systems, information bureau and clearing systems, credit/debit systems, on-line banking, Internet access.
Lack of funds.Businesses growth hampered, economies cannot create adequate wealth.
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
• Provide Internet access solution to schools and corporations that adequately address all the following issues:– Deployed very rapidly– Must have no geographical barriers– Must be very reliable– Must be available always– Must provide a reasonably good access speed– Inexpensive
… the Challenge
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
• Use Racom’s Morse wireless technology to provide links– MR25 for remote schools – all locations reachable, but slow– MR900 and other broadband solutions for inner-city
• Email:– Web based mail interface using local server– Fetch hotmail and yahoo! into local student accounts
• Web:– Mirror as many sites as possible on the local server– Automate mirroring requests from the schools– Enable caching for sites not mirrored– Use www4mail@ictp in Italy for web searches– Create [email protected] in future
Arrow’s Javelin
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
How Does It Work?
WWW/E-Mail
EthernetWAN
Technology Mirror/Cachefor Http and Mail
ISP/Firewall
Workstation Workstation
Workstation
WorkstationWorkstation
Workstation
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
• Access to the ‘net is mediated by the local server via mirroring and caching• Local server updates web pages at nite• Mirroring process runs forever digging deep into sites to mirror sub-links. Sites are available during the process.• Direct access is automatically invoked if both mirror and cache fail. Missing internal mirror link generates error.• Mails are posted and received through a local mail box using a web interface• Hotmail, yahoo! etc fetched into local mail box• Web sites could be 24 hours late, mails are fairly recent
How Does It Work?
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
A brief on the telecom technology
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
• Racom for 12 years used it for transaction processing in Czech Republic, Austria, Slovak, China, Russia, Norway• We have used it to create the biggest WAN in Ghana for transaction processing• The radio uses licensed UHF frequencies, minimal line of sight, long range: 110km achieved so far• Meshed topology greatly enhances reliability• Comes standard with both serial and Ethernet IP ports• Radio, modem, router, protocol converter in tight knit• Non-line of sight 9.6 – 128kbps data rate
…the technology
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
Down/Up sides of Javelin!• Down side:– Web pages likely to be late– Limited direct access to the ‘net– Annoyingly slow if you have to use MR25 directly
• Up side– What is the alternative of zero access?– Limited direct ‘net access may enhance control of students– Schools may not require up-to-date sites for education. Local server can be ‘recharged’ at a nearby school– Inexpensive access– Speed of deployment to any school anywhere in the country– Solution is scalable to higher transmission speeds
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
Questions?
contact:[email protected]
fax: +233-21-238038
www.racom.cz www.arrownetworks.net
AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02AITEC 2002. Innovative Zone Presentation. 17.05.02
• Hardware required:– Radio transceiver– Modem– Router– Antenna and cabling– Note the above are integrated, hence the low cost– Local mirror and cache server
• We’re presently able to put the hardware together for $3k• Expect price to be lower for multiple sites• Running cost components
– Link maintenance– Server, system administration and system development– We hope to charge $50 a month anywhere in the country (compare with existing $300-$1,800 a month)
How much does it cost?