1. Fixed Broadband Wireless Access ITU/ICTP Workshop on New Radiocommunication Technologies for ICT in Developing Countries (African Region) [17th to 21st May 2004, Trieste, Italy] Presented by: Dr. George Ah-Thew SEYCHELLES
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2. Contents Background Regulatory Aspects Accomplishments Lessons Learnt
Future Work
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3. Background
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4. Background Seychelles Outer Islands connected via VSAT.
Population: 79,089
Sea Area: 1,000,000 km2
Land Area: 444 km2
Islands: 115
Outer Islands connected via VSAT.
Inner Islands connected by microwave and RUTEL ( GHz) links.
Telecommunication Indicators
Teledensity: 26.9%, inclusive of fixed cellular terminals (FCT)
Mobile density: 56.6% (more than X2 of fixed)
Household penetration: 64% (vision is 100% - a phone in every house)
Internet subscribers: 3332 (using 6 Mbps downlink and 2.5 Mbps uplink)
Telcos: Duopoly (December 1998) – CWS (incumbent) and AirTel (new entrant) – both have International gateways.
ISPs: Duopoly (December 2000) – ATLAS (incumbent via CWS) and KOKONET (new entrant – VSAT).
Internet access: Dial-up, ISDN, DSL, lease line, wireless access (2.4/5.7 GHz ), VSAT, cable (shortly).
Lease lines tariff is $400 per month (basically a monopoly with CWS) + ISP charges.
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5. Regulatory Aspects 2.4-2.5 GHz (802.11b)
Licensed to ISP (New entrant) – $1,000 annual license fee.
Last mile and only low broadband users (PtMP).
FCC rule 47CFR, Part for ISP (EIRP limited to 36 dBm or 4W).
3 to 1 dB rule for PtP.
European Standard EN (EIRP limited to 20 dBm or 100mW), for unlicensed equipment.
GHz (802.11a - Motorola [proprietary])
Licensed to both ISPs – ATLAS: Motorola Canopy & KOKONET:
Mainly used for backbone and last mile heavy users.
FCC rule 47CFR, Part for ISP (EIRP limited to 53 dBm or 200W).
European Standard EN (EIRP limited to 14 dBm or 25mW), for unlicensed equipment.
Telecom Division assists ISPs in their network planning to avoid interference.
GHz
Reserved for Government usage.
Also a backup for fiber optic network.
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6. Accomplishments
Dedicated fixed broadband wireless access is very competitive ($100 per month).
Probably the only African country with national coverage (December 2000).
Have not experienced interference we have been unable to resolve.
Assisted in the widespread of Internet cafés.
Free fixed broadband wireless access to schools as part of USO.
It is a cost effective solution for VPN (for businesses) compared to lease line.
Assisted the Government to become more efficient (integration, delivery of e-Government, sharing of applications, files etc.).
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7. Lessons Learnt Regulation must be forward looking:
Allow deployment of new technologies.
Assist to prevent interference.
Assist to provide competition to Internet access (competitive rates).
Advise ISP on Freznel zone, cable loss and fade margin for long distance links. Special care for over water links (scattering).
Unable to use low portion spectrum of 2.4 GHz due to RUTEL system.
Good dialogue with all stakeholders are important to resolve interference problems.
Combo wireless equipment are useful if the customer needs to change service (low to high bandwidth) and flexibility (transition period).
Public education is imperative to avoid importation of non-compatible equipment (hence helps to resolve interference).
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8. Future Work
Government plans to roll out GHz (C extended band) wireless networks.
Analyze the experimental VOIP report on wireless networks.
Deploy encrypted/VPN wireless solutions for telemedecine project (Outlook and PGP) – 2nd opinion for X-ray images.
Ensure the rollout of hotspots at the airport, restaurants etc.
Experiment with low cost PtP USB/dish IEEE g wireless networks links.
Experiment with NetMeeting with freeware Gatekeeper and MCU (applications on fixed broadband wireless access).
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9. Contact Dr. George Ah-Thew Director of Telecom Division
President’s Office
Department of Economic Planning
Room 150A, Oceangate House (New Block)
P. O. Box 1389
Victoria, Mahé
SEYCHELLES
Fax:
Tel: (Office)
Tel: (Mobile)
Tel: (Home)
Yahoo ID: georegahthew
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ITU/ICTP Workshop