Survey of Data Network Infrastructure Options for Rural Areas A Platform for Asynchronous Messaging Team Members: Stephane Guerraz, Sukun Kim, Adam Ludwin, Hong Qu, and Tu Tran

Research Questions 1) What network architectures can cost- effectively deploy text, voice, image, video services using IP, asynchronous delivery methods? 2) What commercially viable methods can support these services? Application: SEWAA case study Application: SEWAA case study

Method for evaluating sustainability Demand for ICT Cost Estimator Network cost Kiosk cost Setup cost Operating cost Application Services Revenue Model Income level Usage freq Pop density Savings from ICT Telecenter Setup Costs = Software + Hardware + Installation + Training + Depreciation Operating Costs = Utilities + Telcom Services + Rent + Labor + Advertising

What do we mean by asynchronous delivery methods? Kiosk Asynchronous Kiosks Synchronous Network Kiosk Data Center / ISP

What do we mean by asynchronous delivery methods? Kiosk Asynchronous Kiosks Synchronous Network Kiosk Data Center / ISP

Bandwidth Comparison

Calculating cost of Network Operating CostsSet-up Costs Cost of Network Bandwidth Requirement per village Distance & Geographic factor Traffic Estimator Application Profile & population

Why collective franchise model? Scalability Scalability Securing loan repayment through collective responsibility (mutuality) Securing loan repayment through collective responsibility (mutuality) Creating peer-pressure to perform Creating peer-pressure to perform Creating a community of local entrepreneurs with exchange of best practices Creating a community of local entrepreneurs with exchange of best practices

Costs vs Revenues Cost Estimator Setup Costs : 400$ Operating Cost: 50 $/mth Application Services Revenue Model 200$/mth

Sewaa Telecenter Financially Sustainable

Findings Developed a network cost estimator Developed a network cost estimator Developed a revenue-generating business model Developed a revenue-generating business model Synthesized technology costs with business model Synthesized technology costs with business model Final Product: General guidelines for evaluating rural connectivity projects Final Product: General guidelines for evaluating rural connectivity projects

The End

Challenges of bringing connectivity to rural areas Area Unreliable electricity Unreliable electricity Limited/non-existent telecom infrastructure Limited/non-existent telecom infrastructure Poor roads infrastructure Poor roads infrastructure Diverse Topology Diverse Topology Low village density Low village densityResidents High illiteracy rate High illiteracy rate Limited business skills Limited business skills Little technology skills Little technology skills Lack of access to capital Lack of access to capital

Benefits of asynchronous interaction at hardware and application levels Hardware Less power requirements: less energy spent having the radio on. Less power requirements: less energy spent having the radio on. Decrease maintenance costs since down time only increases delay; it doesn’t disable service Decrease maintenance costs since down time only increases delay; it doesn’t disable service Application Level* Bandwidth requirement can be lower Bandwidth requirement can be lower Decrease network technology costs Decrease network technology costs Limits over utilization: more users possible since full-time access does not need to be guaranteed Limits over utilization: more users possible since full-time access does not need to be guaranteed * Our focus

Satellite (LEO, GEO-VSAT)

Wireless - CDMA CorDECT WiFi

Wired Kiosk Modem Server Internet Kiosk Modem Kiosk Modem Kiosk

Wireless Technologies (1)

Wireless Technologies (2)

Network Cost Estimator

Network Cost Estimator (cont.)

Inputs to Network Cost Estimator

Cost vs Bandwidth

Cost vs Density

What we did Surveyed various network architectures using metrics Surveyed various network architectures using metrics Given the density of villages and the bandwidth requirement, estimated the cost of each network architecture. Given the density of villages and the bandwidth requirement, estimated the cost of each network architecture. Developed a business model for sustainability Developed a business model for sustainability Bandwidth Bandwidth Range Range Latency Latency Installation cost Installation cost Operating costs Operating costs

Network Model

Infrastructure Installation Cost Given bandwidth requirement per village, density of villages, geographical complexity, total number of villages Given bandwidth requirement per village, density of villages, geographical complexity, total number of villages Estimate multiplicity of each link in communication network Estimate multiplicity of each link in communication network Estimate total number of links Estimate total number of links Add data center, installation, administration cost Add data center, installation, administration cost

File Sizes Text: 700 page book in ASCII = 1 MB Text: 700 page book in ASCII = 1 MB Voice: 4 minute MP3 = 3.8 MB at 128 kbs Voice: 4 minute MP3 = 3.8 MB at 128 kbs Image: GIF = 500 KB, JPG = 100 KB Image: GIF = 500 KB, JPG = 100 KB Video: Without compression = 100 Mbs, with compression = 45Mbs Video: Without compression = 100 Mbs, with compression = 45Mbs *Information from “The Information Economy” research by U.C. Berkeley SIMS Professor Hal Varian

Case Study: SEWAA Opportunities Opportunities Communication ( , voice/video mail) Communication ( , voice/video mail) Agricultural info and marketing Agricultural info and marketing Provide government services Provide government services Tourism revenue Tourism revenue Job creation by attracting outsourcing projects Job creation by attracting outsourcing projects Issues Issues Technology phobia Technology phobia Lack of relevant content in the local language Lack of relevant content in the local language Business model: connectivity at affordable cost Business model: connectivity at affordable cost

Case Study: SEWAA Rural Telecenter in Uttaranchal, India Rural Telecenter in Uttaranchal, India Himalayan region: a hostile geography Himalayan region: a hostile geography Isolated small villages Isolated small villages Mountainous terrain Mountainous terrain Poor connectivity for roads and tele-com Poor connectivity for roads and tele-com Unreliable electricity Unreliable electricity Possible Network Technologies Possible Network Technologies Wired phone line Wired phone line Local Wireless Loop (corDECT) Local Wireless Loop (corDECT) Satellite Satellite

Case Study: SEWAA – What we’ve decided Mountainous terrain precludes wireless technology, such as Wi-Fi, CorDECT, and cellular Mountainous terrain precludes wireless technology, such as Wi-Fi, CorDECT, and cellular Satellite too expensive at this point Satellite too expensive at this point Stage 1 network: dial-up Stage 1 network: dial-up Asynchronous connectivity – download common files, store and access locally, store and distribute multi-media on CD Asynchronous connectivity – download common files, store and access locally, store and distribute multi-media on CD

Member Roles Business Analysis Stephane Guerraz Stephane Guerraz Adam Ludwin Adam Ludwin Technology Analysis Sukun Kim Sukun Kim Hong Qu Hong Qu Tu Tran Tu Tran