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1. INTRODUCTION

Now a day it is very easy to establish communication from one part of the world to other. Despite this even now in remote area villagers travel to talk to family members or to get forms which citizens in-developed countries can call up on a computer in a matter of seconds. The government tries to give telephone connection in very village in the mistaken belief that ordinary telephone is the cheapest way to provide connectivity. But the recent advancements in wireless technology make running a copper wire to an analog telephone much more expensive than the broadband wireless Internet connectivity.

DakNet, an ad hoc network uses wireless technology to provide digital connectivity. DakNet takes advantages of the existing transportation and communication infrastructure to provide digital connectivity. Developed by MIT Media Lab researchers. DakNet whose name derives from the Hindi word “Dak” for postal combines a physical means of transportation with wireless data transfer to extend the internet connectivity that a uplink, a cyber cafe or post office provides. DakNet has been successfully deployed in remote parts of both India and Cambodia at a cost two orders of magnitude less than that of traditional landline solutions. Villagers now get affordable Internet services-and they’re using them. As one man in a small village outside of New Delhi remarked, “This is better than a telephone!”

2. WHY DAKNET

Real time communications need large capital investment and hence high level of user adoption to receiver costs. The average villager cannot even afford a personnel communications device such as a telephone or computer. To recover cost, users must share the communication infrastructure. Real time aspect of telephony can also be a disadvantage. Studies show that the current market for successful rural Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services does not appear to rely on real-time connectivity, but rather on affordability and basic interactivity. The poor not only need digital services, but they are willing and able to pay for them to offset the much higher costs of poor transportation, unfair pricing, and corruption.

It is useful to consider non real-time infrastructures and applications such as voice mail, e-mail, and electronic bulletin boards. Technologies like store and forward or asynchronous modes of communication can be significantly lower in cost and do not necessarily sacrifice the functionality required to deliver valuable user services. In addition to non real-time applications such as e-mail and voice

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messaging, providers can use asynchronous modes of communication to create local information repositories that community members can add to and query.

2.1 FIRST MILE SOLUTIONS

First Mile Solutions (FMS) specifically tackles the problems of high cost and limited access through its Village Area Network technology which includes DakNet, a novel, low-cost technology. DakNet integrates inexpensive Customer Off-The-Shelf (COTS) hardware components, open source software, and FMS’s proprietary software to create an asynchronous Internet hub and spoke system. Computers at the hub are connected to the internet in real time, while computers at the end of the spoke are connected asynchronously. Traditional transport mechanisms such as cars, motorbikes, buses, or even donkeys transport data between the hub and spoke.

FMS occupies the market niche between more expensive real-time Internet technologies and cheaper asynchronous alternatives such as transferring data using USB keys or CDs. Its low cost and ease of deployment and use make DakNet the ideal technology for introducing users to the possibilities of ICT services and gauging their demand. The main clients of FMS can be divided into two categories: 1) non-profit institutions that work in rural areas such as non- governmental organizations (NGO), development organizations, governments, and academic institutions; and 2) for-profit companies such as local Internet Service Providers or corporations that work in rural areas.

Company Background

First Mile Solutions (FMS), a company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.FMS co- founders Richard Fletcher and Amir Alexander Hasson first met in 2001 when they were taking Professor Sandy Pentland’s class on Developmental Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT). Inspired by the possibilities of new and affordable wireless technologies, they began to formulate a vision for DakNet as a class project. At the time, available technologies providing Internet access in rural areas were all either too expensive or too risky for telecommunication operators to implement. Traditional wire line infrastructures were too expensive to install and maintain and new technologies such as WIMAX-type systems were too risky to immediately launch on a wide scale. DakNet, they believed, could overcome these deficiencies and provide a glimpse into the market opportunities that exist in serving people living in rural and remote areas. Fletcher and Hasson were inspired by the idea that profits could be made by catering to the poor as customers. This concept, known as the bottom of the pyramid (BOP)

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business model, was popularized by C.K. Prahalad, AlHammond (Prahalad, Hammond, 2004), and Stuart Hart.

They believed that low- cost, innovative solutions can profitably address the unique needs of the low- income market. The official mission of FMS is to help public and private organizations in developing nations bridge the digital divide by providing affordable, scalable communications infrastructure and by building internal capacity in wireless networking. As of January 2005, FMS had four full- time staff, including the founders, and had deployed their technology in four countries: India, Cambodia, Costa Rica and Rwanda. A rough calculation shows that their technology has connected 30,000 villagers which, based on the bottom of the pyramid concept, leaves them 3.9 billion more as potential customers. Fletcher and Hassan’s ambitions and aspirations led them to take their class project to the next stage and enter MIT’s Annual 50K Entrepreneurial Challenge. To support their entry, they deployed a successful proof- of-concept system in rural India.

The primary DakNet pilot in India was with Bhoomi, an eGovernance initiative established by the Indian State Government of Karnataka to computerize all land records in Karnataka. Armed with these initial proofs of concept, Hasson returned to Boston and was contacted by Bernie Krisher from American Assistance for Cambodia/Japan Relief Fund (AAfC/JRF) to deploy their solution for rural schools in Cambodia.FMS first commercial deployment followed shortly thereafter and was launched September 1, 2003. Because FMS was first incubated at the MIT lab and quickly captured AAfC/JRF as its first client, it was able to generate revenue and break-even right from the start, according to Hasson.

2.2 WIRELESS CATALYST

Advances in the IEEE 802 standards have led to huge commercial success and low pricing for broadband networks. These techniques can provide broadband access to even the most remote areas at low price. Important considerations in a WLAN are

Security: In a WLAN, access is not limited to the wired PCs but it is also open to all the wireless network devices, making it for a hacker to easily breach the security of that network.

Reach: WLAN should have optimum coverage and performance for mobile users to seamlessly roam in the wireless network

Interference: Minimize the interference and obstruction by designing the wireless network with proper placement of wireless devices.

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Interoperability: Choose a wireless technology standard that would make the WLAN a truly interoperable network with devices from different vendors integratedinto the same.

Reliability: WLAN should provide reliable network connection in the enterprise network.

Manageability: A manageable WLAN allows network administrators to manage, make changes and troubleshoot problems with fewer hassles. Wireless data networks based on the IEEE 802.11 or wifi standard are perhaps the most promising of the wireless technologies. Features of wifi include ease of setup, use and maintenance, relatively high bandwidth; and relatively low cost for both users and providers.

DakNet combines physical means of transportation with wireless data transfer to extend the internet connectivity. In this innovative vehicle mounted access points using 802.11b based technology to provide broadband, asynchronous, store and forward connectivity in rural areas.

3. WIFI

Wireless Fidelity, which is also known, as 802.11b is the corporate choice and has a suitably wide range for use in big office spaces. Wi-Fi is currently the most popular and least expensive wireless LAN specification. It operates in the 2.4GHz radio spectrum and can transmit data at speeds up to11Mbps within 30m ranges. It can affect by interference from mobile phones and Bluetooth devices, which can reduce the transmission speeds.

Wi-Fi refers to a set of high frequency wireless local area network (WLAN)technologies more specifically referred to as 802.11a 802.11b and 802.11g. These standards are universally in use around the globe, and allow users that have a Wi-Fi capable device, like a laptop or PDA, to connect anywhere there is a Wi-Fi access point that is available. The three standards that are refered to signify the speed of the connection they are capable of producing. 802.11b (which transmits at 11 Megabits per Second) is the most common, although the faster Wi-Fi standards are quickly replacing it. Across the board, all of these Wi-Fi standards are fast enough to generally allow a broadband connection. Wi-Fi is an emerging technology that will likely be as common as electrical outlets and phone lines within a few years. Wi-Fi adds tremendous levels of convenience and increased productivity for workers whose offices are equipped with Wi-Fi, as well as travelers that can increasingly access Wi-Fi in airports, coffee shops, and hotels around world.

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A Wi-Fi network operates just like a wired network , without the restrictions imposed by wires. Not only does it enable users to move around and be mobile at home and at work, it also provides easy connections to the Internet and business networks while traveling.

3.1 SECURITY ASPECTS

In Wi-Fi technology, data is broadcast over the air using radio waves. This means that any WLAN - enabled computing device within reach of a wireless access point can reach of a wireless access point can receive data transmitted to or from the access point. Because radio waves travel through ceilings, floors and walls, the transmitted data can reach the wrong recipients on different floors or even outside the building. Intruders can use unsecured access points to get into corporate resources and launch denial-of- service attacks that can bog down servers with bogus requests and prevent user access to data and applications. To ensure security, 802.11 wireless communications have a function called wired-equivalent privacy (WEP), a form of encryption, which provides provides privacy comparable to that of a traditional wired network. If the wireless network has some information that must be secured, WEP should be used to ensure data protection at traditional wired network levels. But as we know, there is never 100 percent security and the WEP standard was itself breached. Of late, WPA (Wi-Fi protected Access) has over broken WEP as the de facto security standard for Wi-Fi alliance certification. WPA offers higher levels of wireless data security than WEP. It is a subset of the proposed 802.11i security standard from IEEE.

3.2 SPECIFICATIONS

∑ Max speed - 11 MBPS∑ Max Encryption - 128 bit WEP∑ Discrete channels - 3∑ Max range @full throughput - ~30 ft∑ Natively compatible - 802.11b, 802.11g∑ Potential user - Entry level and home networks

3.3 ADVANTAGES OF WIFI

∑ The main advantages of using Wi-Fi technology is the lack of wires. This is a wireless connection that can merge together multiple devices.

∑ It is very convenient and allows connecting to the internet almost anywhere, not just where the cables are laid.

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∑ Uses an unlicensed part of the radio spectrum. This means less regularly controls in many countries.

∑ Frees network devices from cables, allows for a more dynamic network to be grown.

∑ Many reliable and bug-free Wi-Fi products on the market.∑ WiFi networks can support roaming. This allows mobile users with laptop

computer to be able to move from one access point to another.∑ Competition amongst vendors has lowered prices considerably since

their inception.∑ While connected on a Wi-Fi network, it is possible to move about

without breaking the network connection.∑ Numerous access points and network interfaces support various degrees of

encryption to protect traffic from interception.∑ Enterprise and Carrier Grade Access Points can be easily accessed.

3.4 DISADVANTAGES OF WIFI

∑ Power consumption is fairly high compared to other standards, making battery life and heat a concern.

∑ Wi-Fi has a limited radius of action and it is suitable for home networking, which is more dependent on the environment. A typical Wi-Fi home router using802.11b might have a range of 150 ft (46 m) indoor and 300 ft (92 m) outdoors. But about 10 US$ and an hour of building will get you an antenna that can go much further.

∑ Call quality is greatly influenced by the environment, is particularly sensitive to electromagnetic radiation generated by household appliances. This primarily affects the speed of data transmission.

∑ At high density Wi-Fi-points operating in the same or adjacent channels, they can interfere with each other. This affects the quality of the connection. This problem is common in apartment buildings, where many residents are using this technology.

4. AD-HOC NETWORK

An ad-hoc wireless network is a collection of wireless mobile hosts forming temporary network without the aid of any established infrastructure or centralizedcontrol. Ad-hoc networks require a peer-to-peer architecture, and the topology of the network depends on the location of the different users, which changes over time.

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In addition, since the propagation range of a given mobile is limited, the mobile may need to enlist the aid of other mobiles in forwarding a packet to its finaldestination. Thus the end-to-end connection between any two mobile hosts may consist of multiple wireless hops.

It is a significant technical challenge to provide reliable high speed end-to-end communications in ad-hoc wireless networks given their dynamic network topology, decentralized control and multihop connections.

Figure 4.1: Ad-Hoc Communication

In the ad-hoc network, computers are brought together to form a network "on the fly." As shown in Figure, there is no structure to the network; there are no fixed points; and usually every node is able to communicate with every other node. An algorithm in ad-hoc network architectures uses a broadcast and flooding method to all other nodes to establish who's who. Current research in ad-hoc wireless network design is focused on distributed routing. Every mobile host in a wireless ad-hoc network must operate as a router in order to maintain connectivity information and forward packets from other mobiles. Routing protocols designed for wired networks are not appropriate for this task, since they either lack the ability to quickly reflect the changing topology or may require excessive overhead. Proposed approaches to distribute routing that quickly adapt to changing topology without excessive overhead include dynamic source and associativity based routing. Otherprotocols that address some of the difficulties in supporting multimedia

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applications over ad-hoc wireless networks include rate-adaptive compression, power control, and resource allocation through radio clustering

Ad-hoc Mobile Routing Protocols

Routing protocols between any pair of nodes within an ad-hoc network can be difficult because the nodes can move randomly and can also join or leave the network. This means that an optimal route at a certain time may not work seconds later. Discussed below are three categories that existing ad-hoc network routing protocols fall into:

1. Table Driven Protocols

2. On Demand Protocols

3. Hybrid Protocols

Figure 4.2: Ad-Hoc Mobile Routing Protocols

1. Table Driven Routing Protocols, also known as Proactive Protocols, work out routes in the background independent of traffic demands. Each node uses routing information to store the location information of other nodes in the network and this information is then used to move data among different nodes in the network. This type of protocol is slow to converge and may be prone to routing loops. These protocols keep a constant overview of the network and this can be a disadvantage as they may react to change in the network topology even if no traffic is affected by the topology modification which could create unnecessary overhead. Even in a network with little data traffic, Table Driven Protocols will use limited resources such as power and link bandwidth therefore they might not be considered an

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effective routing solution for Ad-hoc Networks. Fisheye State Routing is an example of a Table Driven Protocol.

2. On Demand Routing Protocols, also known as Reactive Protocols, establish routes between nodes only when they are required to route data packets. There is no updating of every possible route in the network instead it focuses on routes that are being used or being set up. When a route is required by a source node to a destination for which it does not have route information, it starts a route discovery process which goes from one node to the other until it arrives at the destination or a node in-between has a route to the destination. On Demand protocols are generally considered efficient when the route discovery is less frequent than the data transfer because the network traffic caused by the route discovery step is low compared to the total communication bandwidth. This makes On Demand Protocols more suited to large networks with light traffic and low mobility. An example of an On Demand Protocol is Dynamic Source Routing.

3. Hybrid Routing Protocols combine Table Based Routing Protocols with On Demand Routing Protocols. They use distance-vectors for more precise metrics to establish the best paths to destination networks, and report routing information only when there is a change in the topology of the network. Each node in the network has its own routing zone, the size of which is defined by a zone radius, which is defined by a metric such as the number of hops. Each node keeps a record of routing information for its own zone. Zone Routing Protocol (ZRP) is an example of a Hybrid routing protocol.

5. DAKNET

5.1 DAKNET ARCHITECTURE

DakNet is unique and proprietary network software that distributes bandwidth from Internet connection points as far as the road goes. Existing backbones become wireless uplinks for Mobile Access Points that are mounted on vehicles to provide broadband "drive-by WiFi" access as they pass through rural areas.

The main parts of DakNet architecture are∑ Mobile access point∑ Hub∑ Kiosk

Mobile Access Point

DakNet offers data to be transmitted over short point-to-point links. It combines physical and wireless data transport to enable high-bandwidth intranet and internet connectivity among kiosks (public computers) and between kiosks and

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hubs (places with reliable Internet connection).Data is transported by means of a mobile access point, which automatically and wirelessly collects and delivers data from/to each kiosk on the network. Low cost WIFI radio transceivers automatically transfer the data stored in the MAP at high bandwidth for each point- to- point connection.

Mobile Access Point is mounted on and powered by a bus or motorcycle, or even a bicycle with a small generator. MAPs are installed on vehicles that normally pass by each village to provide store-and-forward connectivity.

MAP equipment used on the bus includes, ∑ A custom embedded PC running Linux with 802.11b wireless card and 512

Mbytes of compact flash memory. ∑ A 100-mWamplifier, cabling, mounting equipment, and a 14-in Omni

directional antenna. ∑ An uninterruptible power supply powered by the bus battery.

The total cost of the DakNet MAP equipment used on the bus is $580.A session occurs each time the bus comes within range of a kiosk and MAP transfers data. The speed of the connection between the access point and the kiosk or hub varies in each case. But on average, they can move about 21Mb or 42 Mb bidirectional per session.

The average good put or actual throughput for a session, during which the MAP and kiosk go in and out of connection because of mobility and obstructions, is2.3Mbps. Omni directional antennas are uses on the bus and either directional or omni directional antennas are located at each of the kiosks or hubs. The actual throughput depends on gain of antenna and orientation of each kiosk with the road.

Figure 5.1.1: MAP equipment to be secured on motorbike

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Figure 5.1.2: MAP-enabled motorcycle

Hub

It is a common connection point for devices in a network. It is used to connect segments of a LAN. It contains multiple ports. Packet at one port copied to all other ports-all segments see all packets. When the vehicle passes near an internet access point the hub- it synchronizes all the data from different kiosks using the internet.

Kiosk

It is a booth providing a computer related service such as ATM. In each village there is kiosk. It requires a user interface that can be used without training. It enable user to enter and display information on the same device. Either directional or omni directional antennas are located at each of the kiosks or hubs. Amplifiers are used to boost the signal and range for higher.

In Daknet a wireless card i.e wifi card is mounted on a vehicle that travels around to remote villages and exchanges updated information with each kiosk it encounters through WiFi.

Advantages of using WiFi cards are :∑ Increase mobility∑ Cost for setting up a network is much less than running wires.∑ WiFi has a global set of standards.∑ support encryption in order to protect the data that is being transmitted.

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5.2 IMPLEMENTATION OF DAKNET

A simple store-and-forward WiFi system, using a government bus as a central linkage. The bus contains a simple WiFi installation and server, and when in range of one of the outlying information kiosks it synchronizes data for later processing.

Figure 5.2.1: DakNet concept

DakNet is a patented wireless package that does away with base stations. DakNet offers a cost-effective network for data connectivity in regions lacking communications infrastructure. Instead of trying to relay data over long distances, which can be expensive, DakNet transmits data over short point-to point links between kiosks and portable storage devices called Mobile Access Points (MAP).Mounted and powered on a bus or motorcycle with a small generator MAP physically transports data between public kiosks and private communications devices and between kiosks and a hub (for non real time internet access). Low-cost Wi-Fi radio transceivers transfer data stored in MAP at high bandwidth for each point-to-point connection.

The implementation process starts with configuring the Hub uplink and server, then to connecting real-time nodes directly or through repeaters, then to installing Mobile Access Points and store-and-forward nodes, and finally to network testing, troubleshooting and training. This process typically takes 2-3 days for the Hub, 1-2 days for each real-time node, and 5-1 day for each store-and-forward node. The FMS team typically implements the Hub and a first phase of nodes, and then the remaining nodes are deployed by a local team that is trained during the process.

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And the operation of the network can be described as follows.

1) The Map devices are mounted on specific transports that regularly pass through a series of villages2) As the vehicle carrying the MAP comes within range of each village they automatically sense a wireless connection with a kiosk and deliver and collect data at relatively high bandwidth.3) Whenever a MAP comes within range of another kiosk or a Hub, data is automatically uploaded to and downloaded from the intranet/Internet.4) This cycle is repeated for every vehicle carrying a MAP unit, thereby creating a low cost wireless network and a seamless communication infrastructure. Even a single vehicle passing by a village once per day is sufficient to provide daily information services.

Although DakNet does not provide real time data transport, a significant amount of data can move at once-typically 20MB in one direction. Thus asynchronous broadband connectivity offers a stepping-stone to always on broadband infrastructure and end user applications. DakNet makes it possible for individual households and private users to get connected.

The average cost to make a village kiosk ready is $185. Assuming each bus serves10 villages the average cost for enabling each village is $243

DakNet offers an affordable and complete connectivity package, including:∑ Wireless Hardware (wireless transceiver and antennas),∑ Networking Software,∑ Server and cache Software.∑ Custom applications, including email, audio/video messaging, and asynchronous

Internet searching and browsing.∑ API enabling organizations to easily integrate DakNet with their existing

applications

DakNet: Store & Forward Wireless

“DakNet” allows rural villages to exchange messages and video through a mobileISP. By mounting a wireless card on a vehicle that travels around to remote villagesand exchanges updated information with each kiosk it encounters through WiFi.

Villagers are able to send message and record videos through these kiosks. That data is stored in the outbox of the kiosk. When the mobile vehicle comes around it exchanges the data in the outbox and the inbox. Those awaiting messages are

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able to check the inbox for any messages or videos. All information is downloaded to the central system at the office station.

Figure 5.2.2: DakNet Store -and-Forward

The DakNet store-and-forward system operates in four steps:

1 .A village-based DakNet Service Provider (DSP) is equipped with a laptop. Villagers can sign up for a DakNet prepaid account and use the DSP’s laptop to order shopping items, request job information etc. offline.

2. Generally, all the DSPs are located next to a motor able road. User data (such as email, e-shopping orders etc.) are transferred to the fixed access point (FAP)at a kiosk or DSP center. From the FAP, the data are then transferred to a bus fitted with a wireless transceiver that stops outside the DSP center.

3. When the bus arrives at the main bus station in the city, stored user data are forwarded via a wireless node to the real-time Internet.

4. The system also works in reverse: the buses deliver information from the Internet to user accounts at the same time as they are receiving user data.

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Figure 5.2.3: DakNet store-and-forward drive-by wifi model

5.3 DAKNET SERVICES

5.3.1 DakNet Client Services

The DakNet Client Services software enables users to send and receive emails using standard email client software programs (i.e. Outlook, Eudora) as well as a multi-user email client akin to a Webmail interface, that incorporates built-in support for multiple languages. The software includes an Administrator interface that allows the local person in charge of the kiosk computer to manage the user accounts for that village or remote site. Thus, each villager can have his or her own private full-featured account, and First Mile Solutions provides each village user a digital identity on the Web.

Figure 5.3.1.1 : Webmail interface at the kiosk

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5.3.2 Cached Web browsing

The software package includes a non-real-time Web search engine called Time Equals Knowledge (TEK), which enables users to enter search queries one day and then browse through the results the next day, creating a local repository of relevant content – a search for the same keyword by a different user would then become immediately accessible. This cached Web platform can be customized to enable offline clients to experience Web-based content and applications.

Figure 5.3.2.2 :TEK search page Figure 5.3.2.3:Result page

5.3.3 VoiceMail over IP (VMOIP)

In addition to email and cached Web searches, the DakNet technology also enables villagers to use a phone and phone number to send and receive voice messages to and from any phone by leveraging a combination of Voice Over IP telephony, traditional wireline telephony, and SMS capabilities. This VoiceMail Over IP (VMOIP) solution turns each village PC into a virtual phone booth and local exchange for limited mobility handsets.

VMOIP enables users to create VoiceMail boxes through which they can send and receive VoiceMails to and from cellular and wireline phones. Using the simple numeric interface of a standard telephone handset users can communicate in their mother tongue with everyone they know who has a phone number. Since it does not require a PC interface, the VMOIP system reduces the user literacy requirements for digital communications while plugging users into traditional phone networks.

Users can send and receive VoiceMails through a publically available phone at each village PC and also use $12 cordless phones to access their VoiceMail within a limited radius from each village PC. Village PCs route VoiceMails in a store-and-forward mode until they reach a real-time Internet link, at which point each

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VoiceMail is routed to a server that delivers the VoiceMail to its destination phone number. For VoiceMails sent to mobile phones, SMS messages can be sent to notify recipients to call a number to retrieve the VoiceMail.

Figure 5.3.3.1: VoiceMail over IP

For VoiceMails sent to landline phones, VoiceMail can be delivered over the phone in their entirety to the recipient or just a preview can be delivered with notification of how to retrieve the complete VoiceMail. Typically, VoiceMails for local numbers are delivered over standard telephony networks, and national or international VoiceMails are delivered using VOIP. VMOIP users can have phone numbers in multiple locations where First Mile Solutions provides servers that are closer to the people with whom they want to communicate. Village PCs with real-time broadband uplinks can also support standard VOIP communications.

5.4 DAKNET COST ADVANTAGE: REAL EXAMPLE

FMS first major client was American Assistance for Cambodia/Japan Relief Fund (AAfC/JRF), an NGO based in Cambodia that has built over 250 schools. AAfC/JRF first approached First Mile Solutions in 2001 to connect its schools to the Internet. Many schools were already equipped with computers and printers powered by solar panels. However, only one school, 37 using a donated satellite, was connected to the Internet. Satellite technology was the only way to connect schools without telephone lines. Needless to say, it was too expensive to purchase satellite for every school. DakNet infrastructure was also more difficult to steal and vandalize than satellites and wireless base stations. If all fifteen schools had been connected to the Internet via satellite, it would have cost38 USD 260,376 for the first year.39 Using FMS only cost USD 39,979 (at that time, FMS did not charge for its software). FMS used the school that was already connected to the Internet as a central hub. The other fourteen schools were divided into five routes, each of them serviced by a

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motorman. Motormen are the e-postmen hired locally that ride their motorbikes between the central hub and surrounding schools.

Information from the schools would automatically be downloaded from the FAP (e-kiosks) to the MAP (e- postman) when the motorman passed by, and uploaded to the hub when the motorcycle returned. A hub operator trained by FMS managed the hub. Altogether, the DakNet solution was cost effective.

Table 5.4.1: Information about cost

5.5 DAKNET IN ACTION

Villagers in India and Cambodia are using DakNet with good results. Local entrepreneurs currently are using DakNet connections to make e-services like e-mail and voice mail available to residents in rural villages. One of the DakNet’s early deployments was as an affordable rural connectivity solution for the Bhoomi e-governance project. DakNet is also implemented in a remote province of Cambodia for 15 solar- powered village schools, telemedicine clinics, and a governor’s office. DakNet is currently in action in many places. They are,

∑ Bhoomi initiative in Karnataka

∑ SARI (Sustainable Access for Rural India) project of Tamilnadu

∑ Ratnakiri project in Cambodia

∑ United Villages Networks Pvt. Ltd.: operates networks in rural Orissa and Rajasthan

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Bhoomi initiative in Karnataka

Bhoomi, an initiative to computerize the land records of villagers is the first e-governance project in India. Bhoomi has been successfully implemented at district headquarters across the state to completely replace the physical land records system.

Daknet makes Bhoomi’s land records database available to villagers’40km awayfrom the district headquarters. In this deployment a public bus is outfitted with DakNet MAP, which carries the land record requests from each village kiosk to the taluka server. The server then processes the requests and outputs land records . The bus then delivers the records to each village kiosk and the kiosk manager prints the records and collects Rs 15 per record.

Villagers along the bus route have enthusiastically welcomed the system. They are grateful in avoiding the long trip to the main city to collect the records. The average total cost of the equipment used to make a village kiosk or hub DakNet ready was $185. Assuming that each bus can provide connectivity to approximately 10 villages, the average cost of enabling each village was $243($185 at each village plus $580 MAP cost for 10 villages).

It has also been successfully employed in the villages of Cambodia. Next steps involve combining DakNet and Bhoomi with a package of applications to provide a sustainable model for rural entrepreneurship.

Figure 5.5.1: Map of DakNet-Boomi Pilot in Rural India

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Figure 5.5.2: MAP was mounted on an existing public government bus

The Government of Karnataka plans to use Bhoomi as the backbone for providing other kinds of information of relevance to rural areas. This includes commodity prices, information on agricultural inputs, social assistance like old age, widow and physically handicapped pensions etc. There are also plans to extend these kiosks to the village level by involving private sector entrepreneurs and gram panchayats (local governance units) on a revenue-sharing basis.

SARI (Sustainable Access for Rural India) project of Tamilnadu

The SARI (Sustainable Access in Rural India) Project is dedicated to demonstrating that the creation, deployment, and delivery of information and communication services and technologies in poor rural areas leads to improvements in health, empowerment, learning, and economic development amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged communities - and that such services can be realized in an economically sustainable fashion.SARI focuses on:

1. Inventing and deploying innovative and context-appropriate technologies, applications, and highly localized content that lead to economic and social development;

2. Conducting social and economic impact assessment research of these technologies;

3. Testing and generating business models that lead to profit generation and allow the services and technologies to be self sustaining;

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4. Benefifiting from the Network Effect that comes from connecting up a large number of communities and users, aggregating demand and integrating markets.

The initial pilot phase will provide internet access and applications through roughly 1000 connections in 350 villages in the Madurai District of the southeastern Indian State of Tamil Nadu.

Ratnakiri project in Cambodia

The latest installation to DakNet has been adding the remote region of Ratanakiri,Cambodia. A collection of 13 villages that are only accessible by motorcycle and oxcart.The per capita income is roughly under $40 US dollars. The area school is equipped with solar panels that run the computer for six hours a day. Providing them now with email and video messaging.

Early every morning, five Honda motorcycles leave the hub in the provincialcapital of Banlung where a satellite dish, donated by Shin Satellite, links theprovincial hospital and a special skills school to the Internet for telemedicine andcomputer training. The moto drivers equipped with a small box and antenna at therear of their vehicle, that downloads and delivers e-mail through a Wi-Fi (wireless)card, begin the day by collecting the e-mail from the hub's dish, which takes just afew seconds.

Through the donations from various organizations the developing world is given an opportunity to participate in the technological revolution. After many pilot projects there are still investigations to understanding how to increase the projects through various solutions such as DakNet. DakNet next installation is projected for another group of villages in Cambodia in November.

UNITED VILLAGES

United Villages(FMS's parent company) , Inc. provides and delivers products, services, and information to rural people in India, Cambodia, and internationally. Founded by social entrepreneur Amir Alexander Hasson, United Villages, Inc. is based in Cambridge, MA (USA) and operates a subsidiary in India. United Villages India is headquartered in New Delhi and currently operates networks in rural Rajasthan. United Villages is building the largest rural Internet Service Provider network to service over 220,000 villages throughout rural India.

The company uses wireless and transportation infrastructures to bring phone, email, and other electronic communication to villages. The company also distributes consumer goods through its representative network. The company offers voicemail,

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text message, email, Web search, and e-shop services. It builds the rural Internet service provider network to service villages throughout rural India.

United Villages Networks Private Limited has operated in India since September 2005 and is currently working in two Indian states: Orissa and Rajasthan. Recently, the company has opted out of being an Internet Service Provider in favor of providing information technology enabled services (ITES) to rural communities via village-level franchises. Specifically,United Villages has developed a low-costInternet access model called DakNet(lit. µPost Network’), using proprietary Mobile Access Points technology. Village- based franchisees known as DakNet Service Providers (DSP) sell subscriptions for users to access a range of services on the DSP’s laptop (subscriptions are also sold by the United Villages’ sales team). This data is uploaded periodically to roadside access point. Wifi transceivers mounted on local buses send and receive data from the roadside access points, for later transfer to/from the Internet via wireless protocols. This store-and-forward system allows DakNet to offer an asynchronous network communication model to users at low cost.

United Villages is working with leading mobile service providers to use roadside mobile towers as real-time Internet access points. This means that buses will be able to store-and forward data as they travel, rather than wait until they return to Bhubaneswar’s main bus station. Currently, there are over 60 DSP franchises in Orissa which are granted ± in general ± to existing rural entrepreneurs already running a local business such as a photo studio, public telephone booth, electrical equipment shop, TV/radio repair shop etc. Less frequently, an individual running a village school or a rural NGO might take on a franchise. The DakNet system supports a suite of e-services designed for users with limited or zero digital literacy . Comparable services accessed via mobile phone are usually priced too high for rural users, and not otherwise available in the villages of Orissa (cyber cafes are only located in urban centers).Through DakNet, such users can get access via an individual subscription similar to prepaid cellular mobile phone connection and recharge service. The DakNet subscriber is provided with a unique number that serves as account login, and recharge coupons are offered to the users to make use of the e-services over time.

United Villages provide DakNet Identity card. The Fig: 9 is a Lifetime DakNet Identity Card with United Villages for only Rs. 50 with Rs.10 Talk Time free. UnitedVillages provides a phone number, email address, and basic Internet access for people living in rural areas.

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Figure 5.5.3: DakNet Identity card

United Villages provide DakNet Prepaid Service cards to recharge your account in the following denominations with no expiration:

Rs. 25 Recharge card with Rs. 25 TalkTime!, Rs. 50 Recharge card with Rs. 51 TalkTime!, Rs. 100 Recharge card with Rs. 103 TalkTime!

Figure 5.5.4: DakNet Prepaid Service cards

4.6 APPLICATIONS OF DAKNET

AAfC supplements the government- mandated curriculum with additional teachers that teach English and computer classes to the most gifted students.AAfC/JRF was FMSs first client to experiment with the innovative applications of the DakNet technology. The following applications and analysis of DakNet’s potential social benefits reflect AAfC/JRF’s experience. While Internet access has been reliable, each application must overcome specific challenges. Since applicationscomplement the technology, these challenges directly affect demand for DakNet.

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1. EDUCATION

Use of DakNet

DakNet infrastructure was used to connect rural schools to the Internet. One school is connected to the Internet through a satellite, and 14 others schools are connected through the e-postman system. Data is transported by five motormen, each of whom covers a different route.

Application Context

Internet accessibility complements the computer classes students were already taking. Originally, students only learned how to type and use Microsoft Word and Excel. Connecting schools to the Internet allows students to learn how to use e-mail and conduct web searches. Many schools have established a pen-pal system with other schools, which motivates students to practice writing and e-mailing in English. Many donors also communicate to the students through e-mail.

Challenges

The schools have experienced few technical problems with the hardware. Hands-on time to explore and practice is limited.

Social Benefit

Providing rural communities with Internet access is a baby step in bridging the digital divide. Learning how to use the Internet at the primary school level helps students to overcome the intimidation of using new technology. It also decreases the negative impacts of physical isolation, as they are now able to receive daily news and explore the world outside their village through web searches.

2. TELEMEDICINE

Use of DakNet

DakNet infrastructure established through the rural schools to implement telemedicine. Villagers can ask the computer teacher to e-mail their symptoms to medical clinic instead of paying an actual visit. Doctors at the clinic then choose the most urgent cases to treat. Close to seventy percent of the patients that are referred to the telemedicine clinic utilize DakNet.

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Application Context

When patients arrive at the telemedicine clinic, local doctors provide foreign doctors with precise descriptions of patients’ illnesses. These descriptions contain written explanations, digital pictures, or even digitized X-rays. Any useful information that can be transferred electronically is added to a patient’s profile.

Challenges

The main challenge is to have doctors committed to the project due to lower pay scale. There are also the challenges of properly writing up the symptoms, translating technical jargon between languages, and overcoming cultural barriers related to medical treatment

Social Benefit

Many patients had long-term illnesses that were successfully treated through thisway.

3. E-GOVERNMENT

Use of DakNet

Villagers who live near connected rural schools can Use DakNet computer to write e-mails on their behalf directly to the Governor to voice their needs and concerns.

Application Context

To solve out any type of dispute or degradation in service.

Challenges

Due to lack of knowledge only few people can use these feature as a x factor.

Social Benefit

Both the governor and villagers liked the new method of communication. Many of these villages are so remote that in the past, the Governor seldom visited them and had little idea of their needs. E-mail brought their needs to the Governor’s attention for the first time. Even this basic form of e-government was empowering, democratizing, and led to increased accountability. NiDA can use FMS technology to roll out nationwide e government applications, especially in rural areas.

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4. E-COMMERCE

Use of DakNet

AAfC/JRF uses the DakNet hub as a communications center to run two ecommerce pilots that sell traditional Cambodian handicrafts. Two workshops were set up to produce traditional Cambodian scarves and blankets. The project aims to stimulate the local economy by bringing in extra revenue and preserve Khmer hill- tribe culture and art.

Application Context

The project has not been profitable for AAfC/JRF so far because the raw materials are expensive and the client base is mainly limited by word-of mouth advertisement and those affiliated with AAfC/JRF. The project can only reach sustainability if AAfC/JRF can expand the client base.

Challenges

This project had a positive impact on the weavers’ lives, all of whom were women, because it enabled them to generate more income for their family. Prior to the project, the women did not generate any income. Depending on customer demand, they now can earn on average an extra USD 14 per month.

Social Benefit

The pilot has the potential to expand but will need to overcome obstacles, including transporting the raw materials and final products to and from the villages. The founder of AAfC/JRF hopes to have profitable pilots in order to make Internet connectivity self-sustainable instead of dependant on donor funds. Local people are more likely to engage in the new technology if they see the commercial advantages of doing so.

4.7 FEATURES & BENEFITS OF DAKNET

Since it avoids using phone lines or expensive equipment, DakNet provides one of the lowest-cost accessibility solutions in the world.

In addition to low cost the other feature of DakNet is its ability for upgrading the always-on broadband connectivity. As the village increases its economic means the villagers can use the same hardware, software and user interface to enjoy real-time information access. The only change is the addition of fixed location wireless antennas and towers, a change that is entirely transparent to end users, because

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they need not learn new skills or buy new hardware and software. With multiple MAP buses, a low cost wireless network and seamless communication infrastructure gets created.

Some benefits are,∑ Real-time communications not required for public kiosks

ÿ Communications tend to be asynchronous ÿ Villagers trade-off latency for affordability

∑ Leverages two major trends ÿ Cost of wireless broadband (WiFi) ÿ Cost of digital storage

∑ Easy to implement on widespread basis

∑ Lower uplink costs and maintenance requirements

∑ Bandwidth does not decrease with distance

∑ Seed infrastructure that is scalable with demand

∑ Reduced Regulatory Challenges & Licensing Fees

4.8 CHALLENGES OF DAKNET

∑ Determining the actual demand

Even if it is true that, as some studies suggest, people in rural areas spend three to five percent of their income on communications, FMS will still need to take market share away from traditional incumbents such as personal visits, radio, phone communications, television, and newspapers. This transition in spending patterns will not occur overnight. In addition, it is difficult to determine the optimal pricing strategy and - more fundamentally - whether the trend showing the rural poor as a potential market for telecom is reliable.

∑ Developing locally relevant applications to generate demand for DakNet

The client’s willingness to pay for DakNet services is directly related to whether the applications replace an existing activity or satisfy an important need. Merely having Internet access is not enough. Application drives the demand for the technology.

∑ Building a strong ecosystem of partnerships

Successful bottom of the pyramid ecosystems are typically decentralized and leverage the expertise and entrepreneurial spirit at the local level. Local

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partners have both a deeper knowledge of the population’s needs and the capacity to manage local operations. In addition to running access points, local partners must also make sure that MAPs are treated with care and reach all access points in a timely manner. This can be a significant challenge.

∑ Infrastructure, transportation, and weather-related barriers

Ideally, FMS installs the MAP onto an existing transportation method, such as the public bus in India. Doing so keeps costs to a minimum. Unfortunately, buses and even ordinary postmen are not always present in remote areas and hiring dedicated e- postmen is an additional cost the client would have to bear. In either case, the transport mechanism needs to be able to endure difficult climates.

∑ End users having limited literacy

Demand for the Internet is dependent on having basic computer skills and, in many cases, the ability to speak and understand English. Many rural areas use languages that software companies do not support and websites in cyberspace are mostly in English. In Cambodia for example, only 86,400 hitsshow up under the .kh domain on Google, and not all are actually in Khmer, the principal Cambodian language. Part of the challenge is that a Khmer font has not yet been standardized in Unicode, so users must download a separate program for characters to be properly displayed. This creates a huge obstacle for most people in rural areas who do not have basic English and computer skills. This obstacle may lead to a slower adoption of the Internet, thus decreasing demand for FMS technology.

∑ Managing relationships with clients and partners

A major risk to revenues is that rogue clients and partners will cut FMS and UV out of the loop. For example, FMS could be cheated out of maintenance fees and UV’s agreements with local rural ISPs could be violated. The technology is designed to make clients and partners dependent on FMS and UV. If they cease to cooperate, FMS and UV have the capacity to bring the network down. In addition to this technical solution, UV needs to detail carefully the agreements it makes with its partners. This is an extremely complex task, especially when dealing with non- US partners.

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∑ Achieving scale is crucial in a lower margin market

For FMS, and even more importantly for UV, penetrating large markets is a key to generating profit. FMS will need to amortize its fixed costs over more sales. This could create a virtuous cycle by lowering costs and increasing demand. However, it has not been able to deploy its technology at a large scale yet. Only its partnership with AAfC/JRF has expanded beyond the initial pilot stage.

∑ Competitive advantage as other technologies emerge

As cheaper and more powerful technologies emerge, DakNet’s competitive advantage will undoubtedly diminish. While FMS can enjoy a first- mover advantage, FMS will need to adapt and propose new technologies if it is to stay relevant.

5.9 FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

DakNet provide seamless method of upgrading to always on broadband connectivity. As a village increases its economic means, its inhabitants can use the same hardware, software, and user interface to enjoy real time information access. The only change is the addition of fixes location wireless antennas and towers.

If the mobile access points are replaced with fixed transceivers real-time connectivity is possible. Thus more sophisticated services, such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is enabled which allows normal real time telephony. Instead of using wifi, wi-max or e-video can be used. Wifi can affect by interference from mobile phones and Bluetooth devices which will reduce the transmission speeds.

6. CONCLUSION

DakNet’s low deployment cost and enthusiastic reception by rural users has motivated dozens of inquiries for further deployments. This provides millions ofpeople their first possibility for digital connectivity. Increasing connectivity is the most reliable way to encourage economic growth. The larger goal is to shift the policy focus of the Government’s universal service obligation funds from wireless village telephones to wireless ad-hoc networking. The shift will probably require formal assessment for user satisfaction, resulting economic growth and system reliability.

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7. REFERENCES

∑ www.firstmilesolutions.com∑ bhoomi.karnataka.gov.in/landrecordsonweb/∑ www.ratanakiri.com/∑ edev.media.mit.edu/SARI/∑ unitedvillages.com∑ travelmagic.blogspot.in∑ http://ntrg.cs.tcd.ie/undergrad/4ba2.05/group11/∑ www.scidev.net/en/features/rural-internet-not-online-but-still-

connected.html∑ ‘The Role of Information And Communication Technologies in Global

Development’ edited by Haqqani , Abdul Basit