Egidio Giachin

1
Community Communication Networks
A Perspective from EURESCOM

• Egidio Giachin
• CSELT - Centro Studi e Laboratori
  Telecomunicazioni (Telecom Italia Group)
• Via Reiss Romoli, 274 - 10148 Torino, Italy
• representing the participants in the EURESCOM
  P801 project

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CCNs? What is that?...
Just a few examples of current initiatives
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CCNs

• Information and communication space
• Emphasis on locality
• Support for daily needs of citizens
• Support for the businesses
• Support for the public administration
• an opportunity for PNOs (and others actors)

4
The enabling surround
Gateway to the GII
Education

Health
Business commerce
Civic life
Leisure social life
Tourism culture
Local news
Citizen-empowered communication and information
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A common trend
Scope
Technology -driven MAN environments for major
businesses
Civic Authority Information Networks with
public-access points
PNO driven experiments to provide institutional
and business networks in cities
Education Networks linking Schools, Colleges etc
University Campus Networks
Enthusiasts on the WEB creating local virtual
networks
Time
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Why a Strategic EURESCOM project?

• Many initiatives, growing interest
• Common aspects?
• Common trends?
• New roles, new actors potentially involved
• Impact on PNO?

SS 701
P 801
British Telecom, Finnet Group, Deutsche Telecom,
CSELT / Telecom Italia, Matav, Telenor, Telecom
Eireann
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Studying CCNs How do you do that?
Experimental work on existing CCNs
Project Management
User behaviour and requirements
Business implications
Infrastructure
Dissemination of results
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Studying CCNs How do you do that?
Experimental work on existing CCNs
Project Management
User behaviour and requirements
Business implications
Infrastructure
Dissemination of results
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User requirements

• Main objectives
• Capture existing knowledge on user
• behaviour
• Understand usage and needs
• required services, expected interfaces,
  usability,...

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User requirements

• Who are the users?
• Individuals, business, official,
• What is the usual behaviour?
• ICT behaviour, net usage, lifestyle
• Attitude towards present Internet
• Penetration, household usage, dont need
  attitude
• Prediction of user behaviour
• in presence of technology migration
• continue to monitor real online communities

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Studying CCNs How do you do that?
Experimental work on existing CCNs
Project Management
User behaviour and requirements
Business implications
Infrastructure
Dissemination of results
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Infrastructure

• Main objectives
• Compare existing solutions, recognize
• best practice
• Specify optimal infrastructure
• technology requirements
• end systems
• networking and network support services

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Infrastructure
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Infrastructure
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Infrastructure
CNN
Residential
User
CNN Business User
Management
POTS
ISDN
ATM
ISDN
ATM
Adapter
Access
Customer
Service
Network
Network
Backbone
Service
Switch
/
Switch
Cable
CATV
Router
Modem
FR/IP
DPL
DPL
Modem
Splitter
ADSL
NT
FTTH
Satellite
VSAT
Receiver
Data
Home
Wireless
Station
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Infrastructure

• Main objectives
• Compare existing solutions, recognize
• best practice
• Specify optimal infrastructure
• technology requirements
• end systems
• networking and network support services

17
Studying CCNs How do you do that?
Experimental work on existing CCNs
Project Management
User behaviour and requirements
Business implications
Infrastructure
Dissemination of results
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Business model

• Main objectives
• Understand the positions in the
• value chain
• Develop a business model of a
• specific CCN

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Business model

• Making money on the Net
• The lesson of virtual communities
• A real local community using a CCN is a virtual
  community

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Business model
What are the characteristics of these sites?
Buyer Seller Service Providers
Suppliers

• Their characteristics are that they
• Focus on a defined communities needs
• Provide valuable resources to members
• Enhance members buying power
• Provide new channel for supplier.

Buyers
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Business model
How communities grow
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Business model

• Making money on the Net
• The lesson of virtual communities
• A real local community using a CCN is a virtual
  community
• The local newspaper paradigm
• The newspaper industry does not sell newspapers
• it sells readers to advertisers
• Foster membership
• PNOs can provide
• Networks, connectivity, some applications
• PNOs need partners to increase their value add

23
Studying CCNs How do you do that?
Experimental work on existing CCNs
Project Management
User behaviour and requirements
Business implications
Infrastructure
Dissemination of results
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Experimental support
The interface to the real world Trial sites
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Examples from Italy
Torino From infrastructure to services Bologn
a Public Administration services for the
citizens
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Conclusions

• CCNs are rapidly evolving
• Present developments of infrastructure can
• support them
• An opportunity for PNOs (and others)
• Promote partnerships
• Role of Public Administration