Alternative Internet Access Technologies

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School on Radio Use for Information and
Communication Technology The Abdus Salam
International Centre for Theoretical Physics ICTP
Trieste (Italy) 3 - 21 February 2003
Alternative Internet Access Technologies
Prof. R. Struzak ryszard.struzak_at_bluewin.ch
These are preliminary notes, intended only for
distribution to participants
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Topics for discussion

• Current research activities in various countries
  aimed at making internet access less expensive
  and/or more practical
• PLT
• HAP
• Beware of misprints!!!

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Existing Technologies
Strengths Weaknesses
Fiber Large bandwidth Capital/ Labor intensive
Cable Popular in many rich countries Capital/ Labor intensive
xDSL Popular in cities/ rich countries Distance limits availability
Radio Rapid deployment Coverage problems
Satellite Ubiquitous coverage Capital intensive
Most have lengthy/ costly deployment process,
especially new installations
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Power Line Telecommunication
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• Electric power transmission network much more
  developed than telecommunication network
• New high-power, high-voltage power lines
  integrated with fiber optic cable
• Low-power line exist in most houses

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PLC References

• Bartak GF, Powerline Communication Systems,IEEE
  Internat. EMC 2003 Sympos., Istanbul
• Olsen RG, Technical Considerations for Wideband
  Powerline Communication, IEEE Internat. EMC 2003
  Sympos., Istanbul
• Vick D, PLC Workshop, Internat. Wroclaw EMC 2000
  Sympos. (first findings simulations)
• Hansen D, Update on Power Line Telecommunication
  Activities in Europe, IEEE Internat. EMC 2003
  Sympos., Istanbul
• www.PLCforum.com
• www.plca.net
• www.ipcf.org
• www.ascom.ch
• www.broadband.ch

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PLC Forum PresentationBucharest 2002
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HAP
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HAP High Altitude Platforms

• High Altitude Platform Stations technology is a
  way to keep antenna at high altitude
  (stratospheric heights of 20 km) at low cost
• It has a potential of high capacity coverage a
  single platform has gt1000 X capacity of satellite
  (in bps/km2)
• The stations are rapidly deployable (system set
  up in days, providing instant market coverage)

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• Relatively inexpensive the cost of the complete
  system is expected to be a fraction of the cost
  of satellites terrestrial systems such as
  cable, DSL, or fiber to deploy (/subscriber)
• Easy maintenance Platforms brought down at will
  for maintenance/ upgrade
• Easily re-locatable

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• Complement to terrestrial satellite systems
• Low power (1W compare with 10kW for typical
  terrestrial broadcast)
• Multiple applications
• Fixed/mobile broadband
• Fixed/mobile voice
• Direct broadcating video/audio
• Non-telecom applications
• (e.g. environmental observations)

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HAPS Footprint

• For a given altitude, the diameter of HAPS
  footprint is
• For elevation of 150, the footprint is of 150 km
  diameter, for 00 - 1000 km diameter.

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HELIOS Flying
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HAPS Summary
System Terrestrial HAPS Satellite
Lifetime Up to 15y ? Up to 15 y
Capacity High High Low
Coverage Land Rather land Land Sea
Fade margin High Medium Low
Indoor reception Possible ? Not possible
Remarks Easy maintenance Well proven technology Easy maintenance Technology not proven Unresolved power problems High launching costs Well proven technology
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HAP References

• Many publications ITU documents
• HAPS-High Altitude Platform Stations, Federal
  Office of Communications, Switzerland
• http//skystation.com (presentation)
• www.angelhalo.com
• www.airship.com
• www.plfm.net
• www.ga.com/avcs/index.html
• http/www1.tlc.polito.it/heliplat
• www2.crl.go.jp/team2/
• www2.crl.go.jp/mt/b181/research/spf/index-e.html
  (presentation)
• http//skytowerglobal.com
• www.bacom.ch/imperia/md/content/english/funk/forsh
  ungundentwicklung/studien/HAPS.pdf

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Japanese Presentation
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Thank you for your attention