It’s hip2b2

A few months back I wrote about some ideas on getting really low-cost mobile wireless communications services off the ground with the use of VoWiFi. In a follow-up article about IP MNOs, I mentioned three (3) important ingredients in a mobile communications network: Mobile Access Network, Network Core and Handset Support. I did mention WiFi and Mobile WiMAX as an alternatives to GSM and CDMA (and their 3G counterparts). However, at that time, WiFi did not have as much coverage as GSM or CDMA. However, with a WiFi system called roofnet, things might actually change.

Roofnet is an experimental 802.11b/g mesh network in development at MIT CSAIL which provides broadband Internet access to users in Cambridge. There are currently around 20 active nodes on the network, which you can see using our real-time connectivity map.

Roofnet is part of our research, which includes link-level measurements of 802.11, finding high-throughput routes in the face of lossy links, adaptive bit-rate selection, and developing new protocols which take advantage of radio’s unique properties. We have made all our software available for public use. The easiest way to run our software is on the Netgear WGT634U.

Roofnet has been around for quite sometime already. However, with Google’s investment in Meraki Networks, it looks like WiFi Mesh technology is secure. With roofnet, it is now possible to build an entirely commodity Mobile Access Network (also called Radio Access Network by MNOs). So now, we don’t have to wait for Mobile WiMAX anymore.

Here is a summary of a proposed alternative non-operator controlled commodity Mobile Wireless Communications system:

• Mobile Access Network. Use Mobile Mesh WiFi technologies such as roofnet to provide low-cost commodity coverage over a large area. This technology can be deployed with low-cost commodity equipment such as the NetGear and Linksys WiFi routers. The software is freely available.
• Network Core. Today, the two (2) most important mobile phone services are voice calls and messaging (via SMS or MMS). Therefore, we should find alternative solutions that can provide these services including authentication and security. The most obvious solution would be to use SIP. SIP can provide both video and voice calling and conferencing capabilities, as well as, messaging capabilities. Besides, the carrier core is also moving towards SIP in 3G.
• Handset Support. This is probably the most challenging of the three (3) key ingredients. However, handset makers such as Nokia are now bundling SIP and WiFi clients into their phones. I have actually tested Nokia E61 on our existing WiFi and SIP networks. I won’t be long before other vendors come up with more products.

Looks like all the ingredients are now in place? I have already gotten the pieces of the pie to work. I have tried a basic roofnet setup and tried the Nokia E61 WiFi and SIP clients. All of the pieces work well together. Now maybe a business model? Secure, stability and reliability testing? Or probably a look into the regulatory problems? No where to go but forward!

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 3rd, 2006 at 7:16 am and is filed under Mobile. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.