SciWiNet: a Science Wireless Network for the Research Community KC Wang ECE Department Clemson University Presented at Mobicom 2013 Panel: Deploying a 4G LTE Network in a Research Environment October 3, 2013 Ivan Seskar Winlab, Rutgers Jim Martin, School of Computing Clemson University SciWiNet Project website at

Agenda ….. Introduction History Project Objectives Methods/Details Next Steps 2

Internet Introduction 3 Challenge #1: Geographic Scalability Challenge #2: Device Scalability Challenge #3: Economics NSF Research Communities 3G/4G Cellular Operator NIH Research DOE Research DOT/ITS Research Public Safety/ Homeland Security Enabling research over cellular networks…..

Internet Introduction 4 Mobile Virtual Network Operator Mobile Network Operator MVNO customer MNO customer SciWiNet: an MVNO that supports the academic research community Our project consists of a Phase 1trial/planning effort to be followed by a larger trial/deployment (Phase 2) We are just beginning Phase 1 As we will explain, Sprint is the MNO, Clemson/Rutgers along with Arterra represent the MVNO

Agenda ….. Introduction History Project Objectives Methods/Details Next Steps 5

History Lots of great prior work towards wireless testbeds Emulab, PlanetLab, GENI all contribute to current ‘slice-based’ experimentation model Prior NSF Workshop specifically identified an MVNO as a solution for the academic community (Workshop on Wireless National Testbed, WiNTeB, held May 2010) Why now? Timing: GENI helped get us here, Sprint/Arterra supportive partners, NSF ready to finance a project to evaluate the concept, finally wireless now touches many research projects that involve people and society. 6

Agenda ….. Introduction History and Motivations Project Objectives Methods/Details Next Steps 7

Research Objectives The underlying infrastructure (i.e., Arterra/Sprint’s system) is not under investigation. Instead, we are developing and evaluating a possible service framework that can support a broad set of academic researchers. First, identify the requirements Who will use the network? What features/capabilities are required ? 8

Agenda ….. Introduction History and Motivations Project Objectives Methods/Details Next Steps 9 Phase 1: Get researcher’s access to SciWiNet, learn requirements and develop a user community (NOTE: as we will explain, the system initially is intended for a small set of users) Phase 2: Based on Phase 1 results, develop/deploy fully functional system (not yet funded)

Methods and Details SciWiNet will support Sprint’s network (WiMAX, LTE, 3G) as an MVNO partner We are using Arterra to provide the MVNO framework including management devices. Arterra is Carrier of Record and holds the FCC IDs (Sprint owns the spectrum) SciWiNet provides portal interface for administrators Customers can acquire their own devices or purchase through SciWiNet – further discussion to come Discussed over next slides User/customer management Device discussion 10

Methods and Details: User Management Users are identified by ‘Research Project’ For example, University A might have two separate research projects. Each consisting of different faculty/staff/students. Each Research Project will have an admin person who has access to SciWiNet’s portal. From the portal the admin can: Manage devices, observe device consumption levels, purchase additional data New Research Projects are entered in the system through SciWiNet admin. 11 Note: The procedures described on this page are subject to change

Methods and Details: User Management Arterra provides a hierarchical management scheme using abstractions called ‘buckets’ and ‘wallets’. A bucket is a control point for managing device usage. A wallet is a billing mechanism. For Phase 1 we will utilize a single bucket and a single wallet. Research Projects are allocated an amount of data (i.e., Mbytes) which is added to a single bucket managed by SciWiNet. Each Research Project will have an enforced maximum usage based on their allocation. “Points” are used to account for the monthly active device charge. Each device active in a given month requires one Point. On a month to month basis the administrator is required to purchase the number of Points needed to support the desired number of active devices for the following month. The administrator will also be required to suspend any devices, for the entire billing period, for which they desire not to be decremented a Point. 12 Note: The procedures described on this page are subject to change

Methods and Details: Devices Any device that is supported by Sprint’s network and permitted for use by MVNOs. Sprint’s MVNOs are not allowed to support iPhone devices (this is an Apple restriction) With a few exceptions, Android devices that have been validated for use on Sprint’s network (either Sprint branded or third party authorized) are permitted Sprint supports a broad range of device types, ranging from USB dongles and MiFi devices to tablets and smartphones. SciWiNet will require users to accept an end user agreement which effectively passes along Sprint’s end user agreement. 13 Note: The procedures described on this page are subject to change

Agenda ….. Introduction History and Motivations Project Objectives Methods/Details Next Steps 14

Next Steps 15 Monitor our project web site for further and updated information: Phase 1 : if you might be interested in being an ‘early user’ of SciWiNet Fill out an information sheet (to be posted the week of October 7, 2013 at the web page listed above), send to Could be loaned 1-3 devices and with a small amount of data, you should be agreeable to purchase additional devices and data in the future. Willing to provide feedback on the system (especially on requirements and future capabilities that are necessary to support your research) Caveat: we have a very short time frame to select our ‘early users’. Our decisions will be based on when we see your information sheet and how well your project fits with our evaluation. Will likely favor projects that are willing to purchase devices and data However, we would like to get as many folks as possible to submit their interest by filling out the information sheet (to be posted the week of 10/7/2013)

FAQ FAQ.html) 16 What exactly does SciWiNet give us that we did not have before? What devices can we chose from? Can I modify the device? How much does it cost? What is the procedure to sign up? Is LTE supported at my campus or deployment site? Can I run a WiFi AP on my devices? Will information from the network (e.g., base station information such as signal strength, modulation details, or channel frequencies) be available to clients through some sort of web service?