Fixed Broadband Wireless Access ITUICTP Workshop on New Radiocommunication Technologies for ICT in D

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Fixed Broadband Wireless AccessITU/ICTP Workshop
on New Radiocommunication Technologies for ICT in
Developing Countries (African Region)17th to
21st May 2004, Trieste, ItalyPresented by
Dr. George Ah-ThewSEYCHELLES
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Contents

• Background
• Regulatory Aspects
• Accomplishments
• Lessons Learnt
• Future Work

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Background
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Background

• Seychelles
• 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
  (2.1-2.4 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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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 15.247 for ISP (EIRP limited
  to 36 dBm or 4W).
• 3 to 1 dB rule for PtP.
• European Standard EN 300 328 (EIRP limited to 20
  dBm or 100mW), for unlicensed equipment.
• 5.725-5.825 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 15.401-407 for ISP (EIRP
  limited to 53 dBm or 200W).
• European Standard EN 300 440 (EIRP limited to 14
  dBm or 25mW), for unlicensed equipment.
• Telecom Division assists ISPs in their network
  planning to avoid interference.
• 5.25-5.35 GHz
• Reserved for Government usage.
• Also a backup for fiber optic network.

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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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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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Future Work

• Government plans to roll out 3.4-3.7 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
  802.11g wireless networks links.
• Experiment with NetMeeting with freeware
  Gatekeeper and MCU (applications on fixed
  broadband wireless access).

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Contact

• Dr. George Ah-Thew
• Director of Telecom Division
• Presidents Office
• Department of Economic Planning
• Room 150A, Oceangate House (New Block)
• P. O. Box 1389
• Victoria, Mahé
• SEYCHELLES
• Fax [phone]
• Tel [phone] (Office)
• Tel [phone] (Mobile)
• Tel [phone] (Home)
• E-mail gahthew_at_seychelles.sc
• Yahoo ID georegahthew