M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA APT Study Question 3.

3 Rural Wireless Communications Strategies for Developing Countries Rural Communications in India Tec!nology "ptions Author: Malik Fareed Ansari Director (Electronics Switchin ! De"art#ent o$ Teleco##unications, India %harat Ratna %hi# Rao A#&edkar Institute o$ Teleco# Trainin Rid e Road 'a&al"ur, India This case stud( has &een edited and re$or#atted $or the IT) rural a""lications $ocus rou". For the co#"lete docu#ent and additional A*T studies on rural co##unications, see htt":++www.a"tsec.or +stud( rou"+.

This case stud( will descri&e the e,"erience leaned &( the De"art#ent o$ Teleco##unications (DoT! in India $ro# -. (ears o$ de"lo(in rural radio s(ste#s. The author then "resents cost esti#ates o$ the /arious technolo ( o"tions a/aila&le to the DoT $or e,"andin rural networks, and o$$ers reco##endations and conclusions $or $uture "lans. 1. TECHNOLOGIES USED FOR RURAL COVERAGE

MARR S(ste#s In the earl( -012s, the DoT i#"orted so#e MARR s(ste#s $ro# 3okusai o$ 'a"an and ITA4TE4 o$ Ital(. These s(ste#s were utilised to "ro/ide "u&lic tele"hones in /illa es. MARR technolo ( "ro/ed su"erior o/er lon 5distance O+6 lines as the #aintenance and installation o$ the radio su&scri&er e7ui"#ent was easier and 7uicker. The De"art#ent encoura ed indi enous R8D, and soon MARR s(ste#s &eca#e a/aila&le in the countr( $ro# a lar e nu#&er o$ #anu$acturers. A&out . to 9 "ri/ate co#"anies took u" the #anu$acture o$ the s(ste# and the De"art#ent &e an de"lo(in these s(ste#s under a Task Force esta&lished throu hout the countr(. The MARR s(ste# co#"rises an analo electronic &ase station connected to a near&( tele"hone e,chan e, alon with an o#ni5directional (O+D! antenna installed on a :25 #eter5hi h tower. The s(ste# "ro/ides re#ote access to su&scri&ers located in a radius o$ a&out ;.k# around the &ase station. The su&scri&ers are "ro/ided with re#ote su&scri&er radio e7ui"#ent, a <a i antenna on a -.5#eter #ast, and a tele"hone instru#ent.

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M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA In this wa( a&out -; to ;. /illa ers are co/ered in a radius o$ ;.k#s $ro# an e,chan e, "ro/idin #ini#u# &asic co##unication $acilities /ia "u&lic tele"hone. The DoT ained considera&le e,"erience $ro# the installation o$ MARR s(ste#s: =ith the use o$ MARR s(ste#s, the di$$icult( o$ "owerin re#ote su&scri&ers was $elt i##ediatel(. *articularl( in those /illa es where there was no electricit( a/aila&le, the "ro/ision o$ such tele"hones was not "ossi&le. The use o$ solar "hoto/oltaic (S*>! "ower5 eneratin "anels and &atter( &ack5u" s(ste#s (S*> sets! were started at the su&scri&ers? "re#ises $or MARR su&scri&ers. This "ro/ed a ood solution and the de"art#ent installed a lar e nu#&er o$ S*>s, one $or each re#ote su&scri&er unit (RS)!. The a/aila&ilit( o$ "u&lic tele"hones in /illa es &oosted awareness o$ the /illa ers and the i#"ortance o$ ha/in such tele"hones in their "re#ises was ra"idl( $elt &( e/er( /illa er in the whole countr(. This a/e a tre#endous &oost to the de#and $or /illa e "u&lic tele"hones (>*Ts!.

@on$i uration, installation "ro&le#s and a#&itious "lans "re/ented the DoT $ro# #eetin its tar ets: DoT atte#"ted to co/er 92A,-0- /illa es &( a #ini#u# o$ one "u&lic tele"hone under the ti#e constraints esta&lished &( the NT* ?0:. Due to the s#all ca"acit( o$ the MARR s(ste#, the co/era e o$ such a lar e nu#&er o$ /illa es s"read all o/er the countr( re7uired a /er( lar e nu#&er o$ s(ste#s. A&out 1222 s(ste#s were installed with a ca"acit( o$ ;+-. (; radio channels $or -. re#ote su&scri&er units! and :+B9 (: radio channels $or B9 re#ote su&scri&ers! in the >6F &and. =hen $re7uenc( constraints were encountered in >6F &and, the DoT switched o/er to the )6F &and. A lar e nu#&er o$ )6F s(ste#s, a&out 9222, were also installed. 6owe/er, )6F ran e restricted the installation o$ RS)s to line5o$5si ht ran e onl(. The MARR O+D antenna re7uired installation on a tower o$ #ini#u# :25#eter hei ht. Installation o$ towers in hill( and $orest areas and inaccessi&le /illa es is /er( di$$icult. Cettin such towers installed in rural areas &eca#e di$$icult and ti#e consu#in and later &eca#e i#"ractical . Due to the hei ht o$ the towers and the li#ited nu#&er o$ RS)s, not enou h /illa es were co/ered. A&out -1.,222 /illa es were co/ered &( MARR s(ste#s &( -000.

Additional e,"erience was ained on the o"eration and #aintenance o$ MARR s(ste#s: Maintenance o$ the MARR s(ste#s &eca#e #ore cu#&erso#e and costl( as the nu#&er o$ #anu$acturers rew in the countr(. At this #o#ent, a&out ;. di$$erent desi ns o$ the e7ui"#ent ha/e &een de"lo(ed $ro# a&out :2 di$$erent #anu$acturers.

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M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA The re"air o$ $aults in rural areas has &eco#e /er( di$$icult due to the inaccessi&ilit( o$ /illa es. Solar "ower "anels and &atteries are di$$icult to #aintain. There are instance o$ the$t and unscru"ulous use o$ &atteries and solar "ower &( the /illa ers. COST COMPARISON OF RURAL OPTIONS

2.

The DOT is now considerin alternate technolo ies. A nu#&er o$ conditions s"eci$ic to rural areas, such as non5airconditioned en/iron#ents, #aintenance di$$iculties, low "roDected tra$$ic, and low e,"ected re/enue returns restrict the technolo ( choices $or rural areas. The $ollowin rural solutions ha/e &een chosen $or induction: (a! (&! (c! (d! Macro5cellular wireless local loo" (ran e u" to ;. k#! TDMA+*M* Satellite5&ased tele"hones E,chan es nearer to /illa es $or the de"lo(#ent o$ co""er ca&le "lant

In India the $i,ed wireless o"tion has (et to &e de"lo(ed co##erciall(. 6owe/er, so#e tentati/e esti#ated costs $or =44 and satellite5&ased "hones ha/e &een taken in the co#"arison &elow. #stimated Cost Comparison of Rural Access "ptions$
Parameters @ost o$ e7ui"#ent ($or one line! at a distance o$ ;.k# Installation 8 other o/erheads TOTA4 @OST %&' Ca(les .22,222 ()SE --,9;1! ;.,222 ()SE .1-! .;.,222 ()SE -;,;20! -;9,222 ()SE ;,B02! .-,-22 ()SE -,-11! )ARR -;.,222 ()SE ;,02A! 9,;.2 ()SE -:.! -B-,;.2 ()SE B,2.;! B-,.22 ()SE ABB! .-,-22 ()SE -,-11! Satellite *Inmarsat+ -1.,222 ()SE :,B2;! -,222 ()SE ;B! -19,222 ()SE :,B;9! ::,9:2 ()SE -,2B1! (5!B,1BB (.-,-22 5 .:,0BB, the out$low to In#arsat F)SE2.B. "er #inute! ,i-ed W.. 92,222 ()SE -,B0.! -,222 ()SE ;B! 9-,222 ()SE -,:-0! -:,9:2 ()SE B:2! .-,-22 ()SE -,-11!

Annual recurrin e,"enditure F ;:G Re/enue earnin e,"ected F -2 #inutes "er da( H B9. da(s H Rs. -:+5

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M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA

"er #inute *ro$it (I! or 4oss (5! (5! A:,.22 ((5!)SE -,ABB! (I! ;2,222 ((I!)SE :9.! ((5!)SE 10! (5! :1,:AB ((5!)SE -,-;A! (I! B9,192 ((I!)SE 1.A!

JAll costs in Indian Ru"ees unless otherwise noted (- )SEK :B IRs. a""ro,.!

3.

STRATEGY & RECOMMENDATIONS

The $ollowin strate ( is to &e ado"ted $or o/erall e,"ansion o$ the teleco# network $or "ro/idin tele"hone lines and >*Ts in rural areas : (A! Switchin S(ste#s Installation o$ additional tele"hone e,chan es and e,"ansion o$ under round co""er ca&le network is re7uired. Re#ote switchin centres with >..; inter$aces and re#ote line concentrators are likel( to &e a/aila&le soon. These switches will ena&le re#ote control and #ana e#ent o$ re#ote line units $ro# a central "lace. %( installin #ore e,chan es and la(in co""er ca&les, we will &e a&le to "ro/ide a well5"ro/en and e$$icient access network which has, co#"arati/el(, /er( low $ault incidence, and #aintenance does not re7uire hi her skills $or electronic circuitr(. It is "ro"osed that the #ini#u# e,chan e siLe should &e ;.9 lines and the #ini#u# trans#ission s(ste# should &e a B25channel )6F link or a ; M% OF@ or a ; M% *@M. Most "re$era&le is the ; M% OF@ trans#ission network.

The rowth rate o$ e,chan es in the rural areas has one u" durin the last three (ears $ro# -AG to ;.G. It is "lanned to sustain this rowth rate and "ro/ide #ore 8 #ore e,chan es dee"er into the countr(side so that the tele"hone e,chan es are a/aila&le near the /illa es where the de#and e,ists. Fro# these e,chan es >*Ts can also &e "ro/ided within a . k# radius o$ the local area o$ the e,chan e on a "h(sical #ediu# such as under round ca&le or o/erhead lines. 4i#itations o$ e,tensi/e installation o$ tele"hone e,chan es: *roli$eration o$ rural e,chan es in lar e nu#&ers will re7uire considera&le #an"ower $or #aintenance. Si#ilarl(, the re7uire#ents $or other in$rastructure, such as &uildin s, "ower "lant, electricit( source, etc. are also #ulti"lied. It is "racticall( not "ossi&le to "ro/ide a tele"hone e,chan e in each o$ the si, lakh /illa es. E/en a$ter so #uch e$$ort, there are onl( a&out -A,222 e,chan es in rural

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M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA areas and the rowth rate o$ installation o$ new e,chan es is a&out ;222 units "er (ear. There$ore, there is a need to use alternati/e technolo ( o"tions such as TDMA+*M* "articularl( $or those /illa es where the installation o$ a $ull5$led ed e,chan e is not econo#icall( $easi&le.

In order to reduce the re7uire#ent o$ #an"ower and trans"ort #achiner(, it is en/isa ed to install switchin s(ste#s which can &e re#otel( controlled $ro# a central "lace usin the $ollowin : >..; inter$ace5co#"ati&le su&scri&er access networks. NMS &ased re#ote controls. Ordinar( *@s 8 #ode#s used to control a rou" o$ e,chan es re#otel(, as de#onstrated &( Teleco# $actor(

(%! Trans#ission s(ste#s Trans#ission s(ste#s #ust &e "ro/ided to all the rural tele"hone e,chan es usin relia&le technolo ies such as #icrowa/e links, o"tical $i&re ca&les and satellite links $or re#ote "laces. Althou h tra$$ic is low in rural e,chan es accordin to the "resent data, tra$$ic is &ound to increase with the "ro/ision o$ relia&le #edia. In $act, it is the trans#ission s(ste#s? relia&ilit( which ensures the success o$ an e,chan e. The e,chan es in rural areas ha/e the reatest "otential $or eneratin lon distance calls and the teleco# network "ro/ider #ust look on rural ser/ice as a &usiness o""ortunit(. There$ore the trans#ission network #ust &e e,"anded with the hi hest "riorit( and with lar e scale in/est#ent. At "resent, -9,222 out o$ ;-,222 stations ha/e STD+ISD $acilities. 6owe/er, 1222 rural e,chan es are still without a relia&le trans#ission #ediu#. DoT "lans to "ro/ide a relia&le trans#ission #ediu# to all o$ these e,chan es &( the (ear ;22;. This #ust &e treated as the T/R%ST area, and s"ecial $unds and e$$orts #ust &e in/ested in this. (@! Ter#inal E7ui"#ent It is "articularl( i#"ortant $or the su&scri&er instru#ent to &e ke"t in &est workin condition at a "u&lic tele"hone. 6owe/er, #ost o$ the De"art#ental "u&lic tele"hones and >*Ts ha/e #an( $aults and are installed i#"ro"erl(. In #an( "laces the >*T is "oorl( accessi&le to the eneral "u&lic, due to inaccessi&ilit( o$ the custodian?s "re#ises and installation in con ested sho"s and houses.

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M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA There is a need $or a new t("e o$ instru#ent suita&le $or "u&lic tele"hones in rural areas. In /iew o$ #an( co#"laints and su estions recei/ed, it is desira&le to tr( to a li#ited e,tent unattended *@Os such as #a netic+chi"card o"erated "a("hones or credit5card *@Os which can eli#inate the necessit( o$ an o"erator or assistance $ro# a custodian. These will also hel" the custo#er to et $air, enuine and accurate &illin $or the e,act duration o$ the call. Fi,ed5/alue cards, "erha"s in deno#inations o$ Rs. .2 and -22, #a( &e "ro/ided to the custodians o$ the *@Os who can sell and #ake these a/aila&le to the /illa ers.

(D! Su&scri&er Access Network There are #an( wireline s(ste#s a/aila&le which can #ulti"l( the use o$ "h(sical #ediu# lines such as 6DS4, ADS4, >DS4, and o"tical $i&re5&ased local access technolo ies. For Indian conditions, where: There is a /ast "ortion o$ the countr( still not co/ered with &asic teleco# ser/icesM There is hu e hidden de#and "otential due to the tre#endous rowth o$ the "o"ulationM The "o"ulation is shi$tin $ro# ur&an areas to rural areasM And, si#ultaneousl(, there is ra"id con/ersion o$ rural areas to ur&anM T!ere is no (etter c!oice at present t!an t!e p!ysical medium $or su&scri&er access in rural areas, as it "ro/ides sa$e and lon 5ter# solutions with a "ro/en technolo ( such as under round ca&les, which are a&undantl( a/aila&le. )nder round ca&le has the lowest $ault incidence and has the ad/anta e o$ &ein re"aira&le &( the e,istin , trained #an"ower. =44 S<STEMS: The $ollowin $re7uencies ha/e &een assi ned $or /arious teleco# s(ste#s in the rural areas: =44 (FIHED 4INES! TDMA+*M* ( @5DOT! DE@T : 1;:51:: 8 1905110 M6N. : -:;A5-.B. M6N. : -1125-022 M6N.

Time Division )ultiple Access *TD)A+& Point0to0)ultipoint *P)P+ This has &een de/elo"ed &( @5DoT and is under trial in India. A$ter the co#"letion o$ trials, i$ $ound success$ul, it will &e tried in lar e nu#&ers.

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M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA Diagram of a C0D"T TD)A P)P System for 123 RS%S
*ACE :+.
; TO -9 RS)s IN A RADI)S OF ;. 3M

S. S: SSB S;
RS)1 TO B; 4INES ON =IRE4INE

RS) N

N TI O N@ 3 ER ') N I 4 T6 6N O ; C AN< IRED :2 M OR REO) TO=ER S A

TDMA+*M*
:1 4O@A4 4INES

S-

%S)

S; SB

*STN EH@6C -

DIA'RA) ", A C0D"T TD)A P)P S4ST#) ,"R 123 RS%S

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)acro0cellular 5ireless systems Ti#e Di/ision Multi"le,in +Ti#e Di/ision Multi"le Access (TDM+TDMA! M

Diagram of a TD)&TD)A W.. System 5it! )ultiple 6ase Stations *e-ample 0 #ricsson+

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4 SO4AR *ANE4

;;2/ ac ;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

3M -.

SO4AR *ANE4 SO4AR *ANE4

;;2/ ac ;;2/ ac

3M -.

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

%S

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

%S

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac ;;2/ ac ;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

3M -.

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

%S@

%S

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4

TO *STN

;;2/ ac ;;2/ ac

=44 S<STEM =IT6 M)4TI %ASE STN. (TDM+TDMA!

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M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA Code Division )ultiple Access *CD)A+ systemsM

Diagram of a CD)A W.. System 5it! a Single 6ase Station

SO4AR *ANE4

=44 S<STEM SINC4E %S (@DMA!

;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

3M -.

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac

3M -2

;2 3M

SO4AR *ANE4

%S@

%S

;;2/ ac

SO4AR *ANE4

TO *STN

SO4AR *ANE4
;;2/ ac ;;2/ ac

The a&o/e s(ste#s are also under trial in DoT. 6owe/er "ri/ate o"erators are usin it success$ull( in so#e "arts o$ the countr(. 4i#itations o$ =44 technolo ies : All =44 technolo ies ha/e electronic and radio co#"onents and there$ore the( re7uire electricit( su""l( at the su&scri&er?s "re#ises. =44 s(ste#s are susce"ti&le to $aults due to co#"onent $ailures, electricit( trou&les, radio inter$erence etc.

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M.F.ANSARI DOT, INDIA Satellite (ased 7PTs for remote and inaccessi(le villages. A stud( $or usin the In#arsat ter#inals was #ade in DoT. The results were $ound encoura in . At a cost o$ Rs. -12,222 ()SE :,-19! "er ter#inal and an o"eratin cost o$ )SE 2.B. ( a&out Rs. -:+5! "er #inute to In#arsat, the a/era e earnin was Rs. 1..2 ()SE 2.;2! "er #inute $ro# re#ote areas. This can &e used $or #ost di$$icult re#ote and inaccessi&le "laces. Implementation of Satellite06ased 7PT 2et5or8
SATE44ITE

S*A@E SECMENT

6)%6)% N

SAT5>*T
6)%;
*STN H@6C.*STN *6ONE

*STN H@6C.;

%A@36A)4

6)%B

IM*4EMENTATION OF SATE44ITE %ASED >*T NET=OR3

There are #an( satellite o"tions a/aila&le as listed &elow. Clo&al #o&ile satellite ser/ices such as INMARSAT, IRIDI)M, C4O%A4STAR. These s(ste#s can "ro/ide a sin le tele"hone line which can &e installed an(where in the countr(. The ter#inals are eas( to install, li htwei ht and co#"act and can &e de"lo(ed in an( inaccessi&le "lace. 6owe/er the s"ace se #ent usa e char es are si ni$icant, at a&out Rs. ;:+5 "er #inute in the case o$ INMARSAT. DoT?s own satellite network: DOT #a( ha/e to esta&lish its own satellite network includin the installation o$ an earth station, hu& and ac7uisition or lease o$ satellite trans"onders.

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