MCA-208 1311756

ABSTRACT
This paper outlines a migration path towards universal roadand !onne!tivit"# motivated " the
design o$ a wireless store-and-$orward !ommuni!ations networ%&
'e argue that the !ost o$ real-time# !ir!uit-swit!hed !ommuni!ations is su$$i!ientl" high that it
ma" not e the appropriate starting point $or rural !onne!tivit"& (ased on mar%et data $or
in$ormation and !ommuni!ation te!hnolog" )*CT+ servi!es in rural *ndia# we propose a
!omination o$ wireless te!hnolog" with an as"n!hronous mode o$ !ommuni!ations to o$$er a
means o$ introdu!ing *CTs with,
- a$$ordailit" and pra!ti!alit" $or end users.
- a sustainale !ost stru!ture $or operators and investors.
- a smooth migration path to universal roadand
!onne!tivit"&
A summar" o$ results and data are given $or an operational pilot test o$ this wireless networ% in
/arnata%a# *ndia# eginning in Mar!h 2003&
'e also rie$l" dis!uss the e!onomi!s and poli!" !onsiderations $or deplo"ing this t"pe o$
networ% in the !onte0t o$ rural !onne!tivit"&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
1
MCA-108
INTRODUCTION

As a government representative enthusiasti!all" tal%s aout the new telephone $or a
village in remote rural *ndia# a villager as%s# 3'ho am * going to !all4 * don5t %now an"od"
who owns a telephone&6 7et# despite this sensile oservation# a phone is duti$ull" installed as
part o$ the !urrent government mandate to !onne!t villages to neighoring towns& Although some
villagers do use the phone o!!asionall"# most still travel sometimes da"s to tal% to $amil" or to
otain the $orms and other data that !iti8ens in developed nations !an !all up on a !omputer in a
matter o$ se!onds&
*n short# the goal o$ 3roadand !onne!tivit" $or ever"one6 has een shelved in $avor
o$ !utting a!% to the minimum possile standard telephone servi!e in the mista%en elie$ that
this is the !heapest wa" to provide !onne!tivit"& This !ompromise is parti!ularl" tragi! given
re!ent advan!es in wireless te!hnolog"# whi!h ma%e running a !opper line to an analog telephone
$ar more e0pensive than roadand wireless *nternet !onne!tivit"& 9ather than a!%pedal on the
goal o$ !onne!ting ever"one# so!iet" should e thin%ing# how !an we estalish the %ernel o$ a
user networ% that will grow seamlessl" as the village5s e!onomi!s develop4 *n other words# what
is the asis $or a progressive# mar%et-driven migration $rom government seed servi!es- e-
governan!e -to universal roadand !onne!tivit" that lo!al users will pa" $or4
:a%;et# an ad ho! networ% that uses wireless te!hnolog" to provide as"n!hronous
digital !onne!tivit"# is eviden!e that the marriage o$ wireless and as"n!hronous servi!e ma"
indeed e that %ernel -the eginning o$ a road to universal roadand !onne!tivit"& :eveloped "
M*T Media <a resear!hers# :a%;et has een su!!ess$ull" deplo"ed in remote parts o$ oth
*ndia and Camodia at a !ost two orders o$ magnitude less than that o$ traditional landline
solutions& =illagers now get a$$ordale *nternet servi!es-and the"5re using them& As one man in a
small village outside o$ ;ew :elhi remar%ed# 3This is etter than a telephone>6
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
2
MCA-108
THE WIRELESS CATALYST
9e!ent advan!es in wireless !omputer networ%ing-parti!ularl" the *??? 802
standards@have led to huge !ommer!ial su!!ess and low pri!ing $or roadand networ%s& 'hile
these networ%s are viewed as mainl" $or o$$i!es or $or hotspots in uran areas# the" !an provide
roadand a!!ess to even the most remote areas at a low pri!e& Toda"# wireless !ell phone and
wireless lo!al loop )'<<+ servi!e !osts roughl" a third o$ !opper or $ier landline servi!e# while
pa!%et-ased roadand !omputer networ%s !ost roughl" a ninth o$ the landline servi!e@and
the" are $ar $riendlier to data servi!es and to lower-grade voi!e servi!e su!h as voi!e messaging&
These new te!hnologies thus o$$er developing !ountries an opportunit" to leap$rog over wire line
and '<< telephon" in$rastru!ture to the $ore$ront o$ roadand !ommuni!ations te!hnolog"&
'ireless data networ%s ased on the *??? 802&11# or 'iAi# standard are perhaps the
most promising o$ the wireless te!hnologies& The $or!es driving the standardi8ation and
proli$eration o$ 'iAi in the developed world have resulted in $eatures that !an stimulate the
!ommuni!ations mar%et in the developing world& These $eatures in!lude ease o$ setup# use# and
maintenan!e. relativel" high andwidth. and# most important# relativel" low !ost $or oth users
and providers&

As one demonstration o$ the pra!ti!alit" o$ this new te!hnolog" $or rural
!onne!tivit"# resear!hers $rom the *ndian *nstitute o$ Te!hnolog" at /anpur# wor%ing with Media
<a Asia # have 3unwired6 a 100-sB %m area o$ the Cangeti! Dlain in !entral *ndia& Aigure 1
shows the !orridor& This proEe!t provides roadand !onne!tivit" along a !orridor with almost
one million residents# at a proEe!ted one-time !ost o$ under FG0 per sus!rier& Hther
e0periments have shown the pra!ti!alit" o$ the te!hnolog" in mountainous terrain and in !it"
!enters& *ndeed# several !ities in the 2I have egun to deplo" $ree *nternet !onne!tivit" using
*??? 802&11& ?ven with advan!es su!h as those demonstrated in the :igital Ceneti! Dlain
proEe!t# the !ost o$ real-time# !ir!uit-swit!hed !ommuni!ations is su$$i!ientl" high that it ma" not
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
3
MCA-108
e the appropriate starting point $or rural !onne!tivit" in developing nations& Mar%et data $or
in$ormation and !ommuni!ation te!hnolog" )*CT+ servi!es in rural *ndia strongl" implies that
as"n!hronous servi!e-voi!e messaging# e-mail# and so on-ma" is a more !ost-e$$e!tive starting
point $or rural !onne!tivit" proEe!ts&
MOBILE AD HOC CONNECTIVITY
The :a%;et wireless networ% ta%es advantage o$ the e0isting !ommuni!ations and
transportation in$rastru!ture to distriute digital !onne!tivit" to outl"ing villages la!%ing a digital
!ommuni!ations in$rastru!ture& :a%;et# whose name derives $rom the Jindi word $or 3post6 or
3postal#6 !omines a ph"si!al means o$ transportation with wireless data trans$er to e0tend the
*nternet !onne!tivit" that a !entral uplin% or hu# su!h as a !"er!a$K # =IAT s"stem# or post
o$$i!e provides& As Aigure 2 shows# instead o$ tr"ing to rela" data over a long distan!e# whi!h
!an e e0pensive and power-hungr"# :a%;et transmits data over short point-to-point lin%s
etween %ios%s and portale storage devi!es# !alled moile a!!ess points
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
G
MCA-108
)MADs+& Mounted on and powered " a us# a motor!"!le# or even a i!"!le with a small
generator# a MAD ph"si!all" transports data among puli! %ios%s and private !ommuni!ations
devi!es )as an intranet+ and etween %ios%s and a hu )$or nonreal-time *nternet a!!ess+& <ow-
!ost 'iAi radio trans!eivers automati!all" trans$er the data stored in the MAD at high andwidth
$or ea!h point-to-point !onne!tion&
:a%;et operation thus has two steps,
- As the MAD prepared vehi!le !omes within range o$ a village 'iAi-
enaled %ios%# it automati!all" senses the wireless !onne!tion and
then uploads and downloads tens o$ mega"tes o$ data&
- 'hen a MAD-eBuipped vehi!le !omes within range o$ an *nternet
a!!ess point )the hu+# it automati!all" s"n!hroni8es the data $rom all
the rural %ios%s# using the *nternet& The steps repeat $or ever" vehi!le
!arr"ing a MAD unit# there" !reating a low-!ost wireless networ%
and seamless !ommuni!ations in$rastru!ture&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
5
MCA-108
An ad ho! networ% is a !olle!tion o$ autonomous nodes or terminals that !ommuni!ate
with ea!h other " $orming a multi!hip radio networ% and maintaining !onne!tivit" in a
de!entrali8ed manner& Iin!e the nodes !ommuni!ate over wireless lin%s# the" have to !ontend
with the e$$e!ts o$ radio !ommuni!ation su!h as noise# $ading and inter$eren!e& *n addition# the
lin%s t"pi!all" have less andwidth than in a wired networ%& ?a!h node in a wireless ad ho!
networ% $un!tions as oth a host and a router and the !ontrol o$ the networ% is distriuted among
the nodes& The networ% topolog" is in general d"nami!# e!ause the !onne!tivit" among the
nodes ma" var" with time due to nodes departure# new node arrivals# and the possiilit" o$
having moile nodes&

Civing ever"one a!!ess to digital messaging-voi!e mail# digital do!uments# e-mail# and
so on-is etter than installing a !ommunit" telephone& 9ural in$ormation and !ommuni!ation
te!hnolog" )*CT+ is t"pi!all" introdu!ed as a !ommuni!ations !hannel that the !ommunit"
shares& 'hether through a puli! !all o$$i!e )DCH+ or a puli! !omputer %ios%# users are
introdu!ed to *CT as shared utilities with a te!hni!all" literate operator a!ting as an intermediar"&

*n this shared-use model# mu!h *CT has relied on real-time !ommuni!ations# su!h as
landline telephone# !ellular phone# or satellite radio lin%s& These real-time te!hnologies !an e
use$ul $or immediate intera!tivit" and a!!essing highl" time-sensitive in$ormation&

Iu!!ess$ul e0amples in!lude *ndia5s DCHs and the Crameen Dhone initiative &'hile
su!!ess$ul at providing asi! servi!es# the strateg" o$ deplo"ing shared# real-time
!ommuni!ations also has serious drawa!%s& Hne is the large !apital investment in a real-time
in$rastru!ture# whi!h reBuires a high level o$ user adoption to re!over !osts& The average villager
!annot even a$$ord a personal !ommuni!ations devi!e su!h as a telephone or !omputer# let alone
a sus!ription $ee $or a!!ess to the !ommuni!ations in$rastru!ture& Jen!e# to re!over !ost# users
must share the !ommuni!ations in$rastru!ture& This limits the all-important value added $rom
networ% e$$e!ts& A villager who $inds no use $or a phone is t"pi!al# and this is perhaps wh" so
$ew o$ the world5s poor have used a telephone&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
6
MCA-108

The real-time aspe!t o$ telephon" !an also e a disadvantage,
(oth intended parties must e present at ea!h terminal to !apture the in$rastru!ture5s
$ull value& *$ a !aller wishes to !onta!t someone who does not own )or is not present at+ a
telephone# the !ommuni!ation is as"n!hronous despite the real-time in$rastru!ture& Iome %ind o$
additional messaging me!hanism )e it a messenger or an answering ma!hine+ is reBuired to
deliver the !aller5s message to its destination&
As a !onseBuen!e# real-time telephon" !an rein$or!e gaps among rural populations sin!e
it en!ourages users to !ommuni!ate mainl" with people who have private phone lines# t"pi!all"
those o$ higher e!onomi! status lo!ated in more uran areas& *n the Crameen-Dhone initiative#
women were !hosen as the !ommunit" operators to help redu!e this e$$e!t# sin!e it was so!iall"
a!!eptale $or women to deliver messages to ever"one in the village&
2ntil widespread private ownership o$ *CT devi!es e!omes e!onomi!all" $easile $or
end users# it ma" e use$ul to !onsider non-real-time in$rastru!tures and appli!ations su!h as
voi!e mail# e-mail# and ele!troni! ulletin oards& Also %nown as store-and-$orward or
as"n!hronous modes o$ !ommuni!ation# these te!hnologies !an e signi$i!antl" lower in !ost and
do not ne!essaril" sa!ri$i!e the $un!tionalit" reBuired to deliver valuale user servi!es& The"
might also e more pra!ti!al and so!iall" appropriate $or users than a shared real-time
!ommuni!ations in$rastru!ture&
The poor not onl" need digital servi!es# ut the" are willing and ale to pa" $or them to
o$$set the mu!h higher !osts o$ poor transportation# un$air pri!ing# and !orruption& Iome rural
servi!e providers )9IDs+ have a!hieved pro$itailit" " o$$ering lower-!ost sustitutes $or a
villager5s e0isting in$ormation# !ommuni!ation# and transportation e0penses& Aor instan!e#
:rishtee provides an e-government plat$orm that lets villagers intera!t with lo!al government
o$$i!es remotel" $rom a %ios% in their village that is managed " a trained operator& A variet" o$
servi!es su!h as $iling a !omplaint# appl"ing $or a loan# and reBuesting a driver5s li!ense are
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
7
MCA-108
generating up to F2#000 per "ear per %ios% $or :rishtee& The signi$i!ant demand $or these
servi!es results $rom a sound value proposition, Iave villagers time and mone"& :rishtee5s
su!!ess suggests that the introdu!tion o$ *CT in rural areas might not have an"thing to do with
te!hnolog"& Mu!h rural *CT starts with a spe!i$i! te!hnolog" and then tests out a variet" o$
in$ormation and !ommuni!ation servi!es to see whi!h get a!!epted )a push approa!h+& A etter
strateg" might e to start with a asi! servi!e@in :rishtee5s !ase# aggregating demand and
ro%ering in$ormation e0!hange etween the villager and the government@and then see how
te!hnolog" !an support and streamline that servi!e& :rishtee determined that !omputers and
availale !onne!tivit" were enough to !apture# send# and re!eive in$ormation ele!troni!all"&<i%e
other 9IDs# however# :rishtee is !onstrained " *ndia5s la!% o$ a viale !ommuni!ations
in$rastru!ture& Man" o$ the villages that :rishtee operates in la!% wor%ing phone lines e!ause o$
poor line maintenan!e and dela"ed installations& As a result# :rishtee has resorted to 3snea%er
net#6 an as"n!hronous approa!h to !onne!tivit" that involves transporting and swapping $lopp"
dis%s $rom the village to the government !enter and a!% again& :espite this laor-intensive
approa!h# snea%er net is su!!ess$ul e!ause :rishtee5s appli!ations that generate the most
revenue reBuire onl" intermittent !onne!tivit"&
As"n!hronous *CT servi!es are su$$i!ient to meet most rural !ommunit" needs& The
Iustainale A!!ess $or 9ural *ndia )IA9*+ proEe!t in Tamil ;adu# *ndia@a Eoint endeavor " the
M*T Media <a# the Jarvard Center $or *nternational :evelopment# and the *ndian *nstitute o$
Te!hnolog"# Madras@re!entl" !olle!ted data aout the !ommuni!ations needs# haits# and !osts
in hundreds o$ rural *ndian households to gauge the desire $or and per!eived a$$ordailit" o$
household !ommuni!ations& The stud" $ound that the !urrent mar%et $or su!!ess$ul rural *CT
servi!es does not appear to rel" on real-time !onne!tivit"# ut rather on a$$ordailit" and asi!
intera!tivit", 9ural *CT !ompanies should start their operations " $irst $o!using on providing
asi! !ommuni!ation and in$ormation servi!es rather than more sophisti!ated appli!ations&
Another IA9* anal"sis done " M!/inse" Consulting indi!ates that although the universe o$
potential appli!ations is large# 3in the short-term onl" e-mail# s!an-mail# voi!e-over-e-mail and
!hat are li%el" to e revenue-generating appli!ations&6 The M!/inse" report also $ound that most
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
8
MCA-108
o$ IA9*5s appli!ations do not reBuire real-time !onne!tivit"& *t estimates that 50 per!ent o$ all
e0isting rural mail will !onvert to e-mail# and people o$ten pre$erred voi!e messaging to a real-
time voi!e !hannel& (oth e-mail and voi!e messaging are non-real-time appli!ations& *n addition
to these non-real-time appli!ations# providers !an use as"n!hronous modes o$ !ommuni!ation to
!reate lo!al in$ormation repositories that !ommunit" memers !an add to and Buer"& Aor
e0ample# a villager !an a!!ess in$ormation $rom a !omputer somewhere outside the !ommunit"
and store that in$ormation in a village repositor" so that others !an use it& This approa!h is
parti!ularl" viale e!ause the !ost o$ digital storage is de!reasing $aster than the !ost o$ most
!ommuni!ation te!hnologies& Moreover# users are apt to $ind the in$ormation in a lo!al repositor"
highl" relevant# whi!h $urther de!reases their relian!e on a real-time in$rastru!ture and
international andwidth& 2sers !ould sear!h and rowse the 'e in non-real time through
appli!ations developed $or low-!onne!tivit" environments su!h as T?/&
?ven a single vehi!le passing " a village on!e per da" is su$$i!ient to provide dail"
in$ormation servi!es& The !onne!tion Bualit" is also high& Although :a%;et does not provide
real-time data transport# a signi$i!ant amount o$ data !an move at on!e-t"pi!all" 20 M"tes in
ea!h dire!tion& *ndeed# ph"si!all" transporting data $rom village to village " this means
generall" provides a higher data throughput than is t"pi!al with other low-andwidth
te!hnologies su!h as a telephone modem&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
L
MCA-108
Seamless scalability
*n addition to its tremendous !ost redu!tion# a !riti!al $eature o$ :a%;et is its ailit"
to provide a seamless method o$ upgrading to alwa"s-on roadand !onne!tivit"& As a village
in!reases its e!onomi! means# its inhaitants !an use the same hardware# so$tware# and user
inter$a!e to enEo" real-time in$ormation a!!ess& The onl" !hange is the addition o$ $i0ed-lo!ation
wireless antennas and towers@a !hange that is entirel" transparent to end users e!ause the"
need not learn an" new s%ills or u" an" new hardware or so$tware& The addition o$ $i0ed
trans!eivers would provide real-time !onne!tivit"# thus enaling new# more sophisti!ated
servi!es# su!h as voi!e over *D# whi!h allows 3normal6 real-time telephon"& Thus# as the 3Iome
Common M"ths aout 9ural *n$ormation and Communi!ation Te!hnolog"6 sidear des!ries#
as"n!hronous roadand wireless !onne!tivit" o$$ers a pra!ti!al stepping-stone and migration
path to alwa"s-on# roadand in$rastru!ture and end-user appli!ations& Together with the
development o$ two other %e" rural !ommuni!ation !omponents@roust# low-!ost terminals and
lo!al user-inter$a!e design and appli!ations - :a%;et ma%es it pra!ti!al $or individual
households and private users to get !onne!ted&
Economics
A a!%-o$-the-envelope !al!ulation $or :a%;et suggests that a !apital investment o$ F15
million !ould eBuip ea!h o$ *ndia5s 50#000 rural uses with a F300 MAD and there" provide
moile ad ho! !onne!tivit" to most o$ the 750 million people in rural *ndia& This $igure
represents a !ost that is orders o$ magnitude lower than other rural !ommuni!ation alternatives&
Costs $or the intera!tive user devi!es that :a%;et supports@in!luding thin-!lient terminals#
D:As# and =o*D telephones@ma" also soon e!ome $ar more a$$ordale than traditional DCs or
'<< eBuipment& D:A-li%e devi!es using an *??? 802-li%e wireless proto!ol retail $or F100#
with a manu$a!turing !ost o$ appro0imatel" F50&I"stem-on-a-!hip te!hnolog" is lowering these
!osts even more# potentiall" enaling wireless D:As at pri!es as low as F25 &
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
10
MCA-108
DANET IN ACTION
=illages in *ndia and northern Camodia are a!tivel" using :a%;et with good results&
<o!al entrepreneurs !urrentl" are using :a%;et !onne!tions to ma%e e-servi!es li%e e-mail and
voi!e mail availale to residents in rural villages&
Hne o$ :a%;et5s earliest deplo"ments was as an a$$ordale rural !onne!tivit"
solution $or the (hoomi e-governan!e proEe!t& *n Ieptemer 2003#we also implemented :a%;et
in a remote provin!e o$ Camodia $or 15 solar-powered village s!hools# telemedi!ine !lini!s# and
a governor5s o$$i!e&
B!oomi initiati"e in In#ia
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
11
MCA-108
(hoomi# an initiative to !omputeri8e land re!ords# is re!ogni8ed as the $irst national e-
governan!e initiative in *ndia& Dioneered " the Itate Covernment o$ /arnata%a# (hoomi has
een su!!ess$ull" implemented at distri!t headBuarters a!ross the state to !ompletel" repla!e the
ph"si!al land re!ords s"stem&:a%;et ma%es (hoomi5s land re!ords dataase availale to villages
up to G0 %m awa" $rom (hoomi5s distri!t headBuarters#or 3talu%a#6 in :oddaallapur& *n this
deplo"ment#we out$itted a puli! government us with a :a%;et MAD to transport land re!ord
reBuests $rom ea!h village %ios% to the talu%a server& The server pro!esses reBuests and outputs
land re!ords& The us then delivers the re!ords to ea!h village %ios%# where the %ios% manager
prints them out and !olle!ts a pa"ment o$ 15 rupees )2IF0&32+ per land re!ord& The us passes
" the hu and stops at ea!h village si0 times per da")three round-trips+&A 3session6 o!!urs ea!h
time the us !omes within range o$ a %ios% and the MAD trans$ers data&The average length o$ a
session is 2 minutes and 3G se!onds# during whi!h the MAD trans$ers an average o$ 20&L M"tes
unidire!tional )%ios% to MAD or MAD to %ios%+ and up to twi!e that amount i-dire!tionall"
)$rom %ios% to MAD and MAD to %ios%+&

The average 3goodput6 )a!tual data throughput+$or a session# during whi!h the MAD
and %ios% go in and out o$ !onne!tion e!ause o$ moilit" and ostru!tions# is 2&G7 Mps& These
averages are ased on repetitive testing in a sample group o$ villages that re$le!t the range o$
di$$erent antenna !on$igurations& The team used oth omnidire!tional and dire!tional antennas
with di$$ering gains a!!ording to the orientation o$ ea!h %ios% with the road and the us stop&
The total !ost o$ the :a%;et MAD eBuipment used on the us is F580# whi!h in!ludes,
a !ustom emedded DC running <inu0 with 802&11 wireless !ard and 512 M"tes o$
!ompa!t $lash memor".
a 100-m' ampli$ier# !aling# mounting eBuipment# and a 1G-in omnidire!tional antenna.
and
an uninterruptile power suppl" powered " the us atter"&

The average total !ost o$ the eBuipment used to ma%e a village %ios% or hu :a%;et-
read" was F185& Assuming that ea!h us !an provide !onne!tivit" to appro0imatel" 10 villages#
the average !ost o$ enaling ea!h village was F2G3 )F185 at ea!h village plus F580 MAD !ost $or
10 villages+&=illagers along the us route have enthusiasti!all" re!eived the :a%;et-(hoomi
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
12
MCA-108
s"stem& The" are grate$ul to avoid ma%ing the long# e0pensive trip into the main !it" to otain
land re!ords&
Da$Net% A Last Mile Sol&tion
The *nternet is the nervous s"stem o$ our planet and the illions o$ people who la!% the
proper tele!ommuni!ations in$rastru!ture are seen as the Mlast mile prolemM& NAirst Mile
Iolutions
Man" te!hnologies have een introdu!ed to the world with in the last 30 "ears& Through
them we have sent men to the moon and are ale to !ommuni!ate with individuals $a!e to $a!e
$rom hal$ wa" around the world& These advan!es have rought progress to the 2IA and other
$irst world !ountries and have e!ome the standard& *t has e!ome a vital engine o$ growth $or
the world e!onom"& :espite these advan!es the entire world has not een ale to ta%e advantage
o$ those advan!ements $or several reasons&
Door tele!ommuni!ation lines
<a!% o$ lo!al e!onom" $or development o$ in$rastru!ture
Awareness aout the te!hnologi!al advantages
The $irm Airst Mile Iolutions has ta%en it upon themselves to start introdu!ing the
in$ormation te!hnologies to rural areas in the developing world& Their proEe!ts use e0isting
in$rastru!tures to introdu!e te!hnologies to villages through uniBue solutions# su!h as 3:a%net6&
:a% means# 3Dost6 in Jindi& Creating an ele!troni! postal networ%# !omplete with ele!troni!
3Dostmen6 )(o"d# Clar%+&
:a%;et Moile A!!ess Doint )MAD+ ;etwor%s reBuire,
Appropriate ?nvironment, !omputers in remote villages that !an e a!!essed " road
transport&
Approa!h, MADs are installed on vehi!les that normall" pass " ea!h village to provide
store-and-$orward !onne!tivit"
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
13
MCA-108

3:a%net6 allows rural villages to e0!hange messages and video through a moile *ID& ("
mounting a wireless !ard on a vehi!le that travels around to remote villages and e0!hanges
updated in$ormation with ea!h %ios% it en!ounters through 'iAi&
=illagers are ale to send message and re!ord videos through these %ios%s& That data is
stored in the outo0 o$ the %ios%& 'hen the moile vehi!le !omes around it e0!hanges the data in
the outo0 and the ino0& Those awaiting messages are ale to !he!% the ino0 $or an" messages
or videos& All in$ormation is downloaded to the !entral s"stem at the o$$i!e station&
2sing 'iAi allows $or !heap reliale *nternet servi!e to those rural !ommuni!ation
*n$rastru!tures& The telephone lines in the remote and rural areas are $reBuentl" d"s$un!tional
and unreliale $or *nternet !onne!tivit"& )(aat!hit+ Thus 'iAi !reates etter a!!ess to andwidth
$rom the large data lines that run throughout the world )(?<H', Titani! a!%one through Asia&
)Titani!++
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
1G
MCA-108
The latest installation to :a%;et has een adding the remote region o$ 9atana%iri#
Camodia& A !olle!tion o$ 13 villages that is onl" a!!essile " motor!"!le and o0!art& The per
!apita in!ome is roughl" under FG0 2I dollars& The area s!hool is eBuipped with solar panels
that run the !omputer $or si0 hours a da"& Droviding them now with email and video messaging&
3?arl" ever" morning# $ive Jonda motor!"!les leave the hu in the provin!ial !apital o$ (anlung
where a satellite dish# donated " Ihin Iatellite# lin%s the provin!ial hospital and a spe!ial s%ills
s!hool to the *nternet $or telemedi!ine and !omputer training& The moto drivers eBuipped with a
small o0 and antenna at the rear o$ their vehi!le that downloads and delivers e-mail through a
wi-$i )wireless+ !ard# egin the da" " !olle!ting the e-mail $rom the huOs dish# whi!h ta%es Eust
a $ew se!onds&6
Through the donations $rom various organi8ations the developing world is given an opportunit"
to parti!ipate in the te!hnologi!al revolution& A$ter man" pilot proEe!ts there are still
investigations to understanding how to in!rease the proEe!ts through various solutions su!h as
:a%;et& :a%net5s ne0t installation is proEe!ted $or another group o$ villages in Camodia in
;ovemer&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
15
MCA-108
'i(st Mile Sol&tions% Da$Net Ta$es R&(al Comm&nities Online
Man" developing !ountries !ontinue to $a!e the !hallenge o$ how to in!rease a!!ess to
in$ormation !ommuni!ation te!hnologies )*CTs+ in rural and remote areas& Tele!ommuni!ation
!ompanies are usuall" relu!tant to e0tend their networ% due to high in$rastru!ture !osts# low
population densit"# and limited ailit" to pa" $or the servi!es& Airst Mile Iolutions P1Q )AMI+
!ounters this prolem " providing tele!ommuni!ations eBuipment that !an !heapl" !onne!t
rural and remote populations to the *nternet through an innovative te!hnolog", :a%;et& :a%;et
leverages short- range wireless te!hnolog" in tandem with traditional tele!ommuni!ation and
ph"si!al transportation in$rastru!tures& <o!al transportation@ e&g&# puli! uses# motor!"!les#
and suppl" tru!%s@ $a!ilitates data e0!hanges etween rural villages and *nternet hus& This
un!onventional !ommuni!ation networ% provides end users with as"n!hronous a!!ess to e- mail#
voi!e messages# and *nternet rowsing&
Activity Description, =illagers in Camodia# Costa 9i!a# 9wanda# Daragua" and *ndia are
getting !onne!ted to the gloal networ%# using te!hnolog" $rom Massa!husetts-ased Airst Mile
Iolutions& AMIO :a%;et te!hnolog" provides !onne!tivit" to villages through a uniBue drive-"
'iAi te!hniBue& The proEe!t provides e-mail addresses# phone servi!es and we !apailit" to
individual villagers& 'hile the" are not alwa"s !onne!ted to the networ%# villagers !an a!!ess
them an" time to write e-mail# re!ord messages or !ondu!t we sear!hes& ?ver" da"# a vehi!le
drives slowl" into the village# uploading stored data and downloading them to the !entral
ma!hines& 'hen the vehi!le returns to the ase station# data are uploaded to a satellite and !an e
sent an"where in the world&
Activity Update, AMI now rea!hes G0#000 villagers through its various proEe!ts and is unrolling
its $irst lo!al ran!h in *ndia& The !ompan" plans to spend F30 million over the ne0t si0 "ears to
rea!h *ndiaOs mar%et !apa!it" o$ 220#000 villages& A$ter the start-up phase is !omplete# this
s"stem will e entirel" $inan!ed " private investment and pro$its $rom low servi!e $ees& Aor the
purpose o$ spreading 2nited =illages servi!es to other !ountries where operations are not
!urrentl" a!tive# the !ompan" has egun o$$ering a $ran!hise servi!e open to Buali$ied
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
16
MCA-108
entrepreneurs&

AMI has three maEor $uture proEe!ts in the pipeline& The" plan to utili8e !ellular
networ%s to trans$er data to their !ustomers# eliminating the need $or most Ai0ed A!!ess Doints&
The !ompan" also plans to egin o$$ering a private internet !urren!" servi!e where" users ma"
pur!hase goods using !redit $rom their prepaid 2nited =illages a!!ounts& Ainall"# AMI is in
preliminar" tal%s with maEor sear!h engine providers to !reate innovative new !a!hing
te!hnolog" that would essentiall" o$$er man" internet servi!es in an o$$line $ormat&
*t is an initiative led " Airst Mile Iolutions )AMI+# a venture managed " a team o$
M*T graduates# developing and testing innovative !onne!tivit" approa!hes aiming at rural needs
in developing !ountries& A pilot demonstration too% pla!e in Ti%awali# a village near Aaridaad
)Itate o$ Jar"ana# *ndia+ in Mar!h 2002& The pilot solution enaled villagers to $ile !omplaints
via email and send video messages $rom one village to another& The solution !omines 'iAi
)*??? 802&11+ eBuipment at 2&GCh8 with Moile A!!ess Doints )MADs+ mounted on and
powered " a puli! us& The pilot proved ale to wirelessl" and automati!all" !olle!t# transport
and deliver data at high speeds to and $rom %ios%-ased !omputers enaled with 'iAi !ards&
Testing 'i-Ai with data store-and-$orward solutions in rural *ndia will not e !on$ined
to pilot proEe!ts an"more& The government has proposed to roll out the :a%;et 'i-Ai proEe!t -
involving the lin%ing up o$ !omputers to networ%s without using wires - as a !onne!tivit"
medium aimed at the rural masses# a!!ording to the department o$ industrial poli!" and
promotion se!retar" 9aEeeva 9atna Ihah&3The pilot proEe!ts have proved their ailit" to
wirelessl" and automati!all" !olle!t# transport and deliver data at high speeds to and $rom %ios%-
ased !omputers with 'i-Ai !ards#6 he told ?A? on the sidelines o$ the $ourth *ndia-?2 usiness
summit here& Je# however# re$used to reveal the proEe!t details as well as the time $rame as to
when the proEe!t will e rolled out& 3Dilot proEe!ts su!h as the one !urrentl" on in /arnata%a# are
$ast proving that 'i-Ai te!hnologies !an a!tuall" ring !onne!tivit" to underserved populations
at a $ra!tion o$ the !ost o$ alternative wired or wireless te!hnologies#6 Mr Ihah said&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
17
MCA-108
A!!ording to Airst Mile Iolutions $ounder Amir Ale0ander Jasson# who helped
initiate the two :a%;et 'i-Ai pilot proEe!ts in Ti%awali# a village near Aaridaad# Jar"ana# and
:odaalapur distri!t in /arnata%a# 3'e are using *??? 802&11 eBuipment at 2&G CJ8& 'e don5t
use ase stations# ut rather our !ustom :a%;et Moile A!!ess Doint )MAD+ that is mounted on
and powered " a vehi!le&6
Civing the proEe!t details# Mr Jasson said# 3?ssentiall"# a van roam roams around the
:odaalapur distri!t in /arnata%a# stopping at di$$erent villages long enough $or the lo!al
!omputer to !onne!t to it wirelessl" and trans$er the data stored in it& Arom the van to the !entral
dataase is also a 'i-Ai hop# thus resulting in a wireless end-to-end trans$er o$ in$ormation -
whi!h is what 'i-Ai is all aout& The proEe!t involves !reating an online dataase o$ land
re!ords&6

?ssentiall"# the :a%;et-enaled vehi!le drives past a %ios% where it pi!%s up and
drops o$$ land re!ord Bueries and responses& ?a!h da"# this is s"n!hronised with a !entral
dataase& :ata is transported through the a!!ess point# whi!h automati!all" and wirelessl"
!olle!ts and delivers data $rom ea!h %ios% on the networ%& The trans$er o$ data !an ta%e pla!e up
to a radius o$ 1&25 %m around the %ios%& Mr Jasson said# 3The ene$its o$ using this low-!ost
wireless networ% whi!h is eas" to set up and maintain are alread" emerging&3
:a%;et o$$ers a !ost-e$$e!tive networ% $or data !onne!tivit" in regions la!%ing
!ommuni!ations in$rastru!ture& The patent-pending h"rid networ% ar!hite!ture !omines
ph"si!al and wireless data transport to enale high-andwidth intranet and *nternet !onne!tivit"
among %ios%s )puli! !omputers+ and etween %ios%s and hus )pla!es with a reliale *nternet
!onne!tion+&
:ata is transported " means o$ a moile a!!ess point# whi!h automati!all" and
wirelessl" !olle!ts and delivers data $romRto ea!h %ios% on the networ%& :a%net $o!uses on
ridging the digital divide " e0tending the advantages o$ 802&110 te!hnologies and solutions to
the remote areas&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
18
MCA-108
WI'I
Ihort $or wireless fidelity and is meant to e used generi!all" when re$erring o$ an"
t"pe o$ whether 802&11# 802&11a# dual-and# et!& The term is promulgated " the 'i-Ai
Allian!e& Aormerl"# the term M'i-AiM was used onl" in pla!e o$ the 2&GCJ8 802&11 standard&

'ireless data networ%s )'ide Area ;etwor%s and <o!al Area ;etwor%s+ ased on the
*??? 802&11 or 3'iAi6 standard are perhaps the most promising wireless te!hnolog"& Civen its
popularit" in developed nations# it is reasonale to !onsider the use o$ 'iAi in developing
!ountries as well& The $or!es driving the standardi8ation and proli$eration o$ 'iAi in the
developed world !ould also stimulate the !ommuni!ations mar%et d"nami! in the developing
world& These $eatures in!lude, its ease o$ set-up# use# and maintenan!e. its relativel" high
andwidth. and# most importantl"# its relativel" low !ost $or oth users and providers&
Itandard 'iAi !onne!tivit" )*??? 802&11+ provides up to 11MRse! data rates#
and operates in a and near 2&GCh8 that is generall" unli!ensed in ?urope and the Ameri!as&
;ewer versions o$ 'iAi provide 22MRse! in this and# and versions that operate at higher
$reBuen!ies provide up to 5GMRse!& Tests in rural settings show that a standard 'iAi !ard )su!h
as !ommonl" used with laptop DCs+ !an provide good !onne!tivit" up to a S %ilometer radius
given line-o$-sight& 'ith the addition o$ antennas and repeaters# it is possile to a!hieve point-to-
point !onne!tivit" at distan!es o$ up to 20 %ilometers& 'iAi a!!ess points )devi!es !ommonl"
used to provide a 'iAi networ%+ !urrentl" retail $or F120# and 'iAi !ards retail $or under F60&
'iAi te!hnolog" opens up new possiilities $or rural !onne!tivit" in developing !ountries&
Jowever# the su!!ess$ul implementation o$ this te!hnolog" and the !hoi!e o$ usage model
should e guided " an intimate %nowledge o$ rural !ommunities and their in$ormation- and
!ommuni!ation-related needs& Hur vision is that# provided a !ondu!ive regulator" environment#
lo!al entrepreneurs within developing !ountries will leverage 'iAi-ased te!hnolog" to, )a+
solve the !hi!%en-and-the-egg prolem o$ the simultaneous need $or oth a mar%et and an
in$rastru!ture. and )+ !reate a widespread wireless in$rastru!ture that grows seamlessl" with the
rural !ommuni!ations mar%et# ultimatel" s!aling up to universal roadand !onne!tivit"&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
1L
MCA-108
S)eci*ications
Ma0 speed - 11 M(DI
Ma0 en!r"ption - 128 it '?D
:is!rete !hannels - 3
Ma0 range T $ull throughput - 30$t
;ativel" !ompatile - 802&11# 802&11g
Dotential user - ?ntr" level and home networ%s
ADVANTA+ES O' WI'I
2ses an unli!ensed part o$ the radio spe!trum& This means less regularl" !ontrols in man"
!ountries&
Arees networ% devi!es $rom !ales# allows $or a more d"nami! networ% to e grown
Man" reliale and ug-$ree 'i-Ai produ!ts on the mar%et&
Competition amongst vendors has lowered pri!es !onsideral" sin!e their in!eption&
'hile !onne!ted on a 'i-Ai networ%# it is possile to move aout without rea%ing the
internet !onne!tion&
Modern A!!ess points and Client Cards have e0!ellent in-uilt se!urit" and en!r"ption&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
20
MCA-108
DISADVANTA+ES O' WI'I
The 802&11 and 802&11g $lavors o$ 'i-Ai use the 2&GCJ8 spe!trum whi!h is
!rowded with other devi!es su!h as (luetooth# mi!rowave ovens# !ordless phones
)L00MJ8 or 5&8CJ8 +# video sender devi!es among man" others& This ma" !ause
degradation in per$orman!e& Hther devi!es whi!h use mi!rowave $reBuen!ies su!h as
!ertain t"pes o$ !ell phones !an also !ause degradation in per$orman!e&
Dower !onsumption is $airl" high !ompared to other standards# ma%ing atter" li$e
and heat a !on!ern&
2sers do not alwa"s !on$igure it properl"& *n addition# 'i-Ai !ommonl" uses 'ired
?Buivalent Driva!" )'?D+ proto!ol $or prote!tion# whi!h has een shown to e easil"
rea%ale even when properl" !on$igured& ;ewer wireless solutions are slowl"
providing support $or the superior 'i-Ai Drote!ted A!!ess )'DA+ proto!ol# though
man" s"stems still emplo" '?D&
'i-Ai networ%s have limited range& A t"pi!al 'i-Ai home router using 802&11 might
have a range o$ 150 $t)G6 m+ indoors and 300 $t )L2 m+ outdoors& (ut aout 10 2IF
and an hour o$ uilding will give "ou an antenna that !an go mu!h $urther&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
21
MCA-108
DANET NETWOR ARCHITECTURE
The main parts o$ da%net ar!hite!ture are,
Moile a!!ess point
Ju
/ios%
MOBILE ACCESS ,OINT
:a%net o$$ers data to e transmitted over short point-to-point lin%s& *t !omines ph"si!al and
wireless data transport to enale high andwidth intranet and internet !onne!tivit" among %ios%s
)puli! !omputers+ and etween %ios%s and hus )pla!es with reliale *nternet !onne!tion+ &:ata
is transported " means o$ moile a!!ess point# whi!h automati!all" and wirelessl" !olle!ts and
delivers data $romRto ea!h %ios% on the networ%& <ow !ost '*A* radio trans!eivers automati!all"
trans$er the data stored in the MAD at high andwidth $or ea!h point-to-point !onne!tion&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
22
MCA-108
CONCLUSION
The government has proposed to roll out the :a%;et 'i-Ai proEe!t - involving the in%ing
up o$ !omputers to networ%s without using wires - as a !onne!tivit" medium aimed at the rural
-masses&
A!!ording to Airst Mile Iolutions $ounder helped initiate the two :a%;et 'i-Ai pilot
proEe!ts in Ti%awali# a village near Aaridaad# Jar"ana# and :odaalapur distri!t in /arnata%a#
M'e are using *??? 802&11 eBuipment at 2&G CJ8& 'e donOt use ase stations# ut rather our
!ustom :a%;et Moile A!!ess Doint )MAD+ that is mounted on and powered " a vehi!le&M
Civing the proEe!t details# Mr Jasson said# M?ssentiall"# a van roam roams around the
:odaalapur distri!t in /arnata%a# stopping at di$$erent villages long enough $or the lo!al
!omputer to !onne!t to it wirelessl" and trans$er the data stored in it& Arom the van to the !entral
dataase is also a 'i-Ai hop# thus resulting in a wireless end-to-end trans$er o$ in$ormation -
whi!h is what 'i-Ai is all aout& The proEe!t involves !reating an online dataase o$ land
re!ords&M
?ssentiall"# the :a%;et-enaled vehi!le drives past a %ios% where it pi!%s up and drops
o$$ land re!ord Bueries and responses& ?a!h da"# this is s"n!hroni8ed with a !entral dataase&
:ata is transported through the a!!ess point# whi!h automati!all" and wirelessl" !olle!ts and
delivers data $rom ea!h %ios% on the networ%& The trans$er o$ data !an ta%e pla!e up to a radius
o$ 1&25 %m around the %ios%&
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
23
MCA-108
RE'ERENCE
www&!s&!mu&edu

www&thin%!"!le&org

www&thin%!"!le2&media&mit&edu

www&$irstmilesolutions&!om

www&da%net&net


M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
2G
MCA-108
M&M& *nstitute o$ Computer Te!hnolog" 1 (usiness Management#
Maharishi Mar%andeshwar 2niversit"# Mullana )Amala+
25