Municipal Wireless Networks

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1 Seminar: Internet Economics Municipal Wireless Networks Luis Gerardo Pena

2 Topics Introduction Deployment motivation Technologies Economic aspects Case studies Discussion

3 Topics Introduction Deployment motivation Technologies Economic aspects Case studies Discussion

4 Introduction What are Municipal Wireless Networks? Image source: sfgov.org MWN covering a few strategic locations. Image source: news.rice.edu MWN covering a huge area of the city.

5 Topics Introduction Deployment motivation Technologies Economic aspects Case studies Discussion

6 Deployment Motivation Economic growth & Tax base increase Image: interviewstream.com Attract more business and investors. Image: vancouverconventioncenter.ca Provide added value to local convention centers. Image source: technocalifornia.blogspot.com Attract more tourists.

7 Deployment Motivation Municipal cost reduction Image: toronto.ca Support internal operations and services to the community. Increased productivity: Easy access to schedules, , office systems, and collaboration tools. Image: insuranceeditor.com Online payments reduce operational costs Image: vettecorp.com More efficient utility monitoring

8 Deployment Motivation Enhancement of public safety. Image: alcaldesdemexico.com Cost effective surveillance systems Image: techjaws.com Image: ikedabarry.com Access to databases and other systems Image: security-technologynews.com Base of Operations Image: gtafs.ca Unified emergency networks - response times

9 Deployment Motivation Breaking the digital divide within the community Image: mooreslore.corante.com Having or not access to the internet Image source: thumbnails-visually.netdna-ssl.com Aguascalientes, Mexico. Digital divide

Deployment Motivation Breaking the rural vs urban digital divide in the municipality Low concentration areas are unattractive to internet service providers.

10 Deployment Motivation Breaking the rural vs urban digital divide in the municipality Low concentration areas are unattractive to internet service providers. Alternatives: 56K dialup modems - Slow Satellite connections - High equipment costs and monthly costs Installation of a satellite internet connection in some rural areas. Image: manaslucircuittrek.com.

11 Topics Introduction Deployment motivation Technologies Economic aspects Case studies Discussion

12 Architecture Mesh Wireless Networks Municipal Wireless Networks mainly built using Mesh Wireless Networks. Mesh router on street light. Image : gnswireless.com Wireless mesh networks often consist of mesh clients, mesh routers and gateways. Mesh network diagram. Image: infocom.uniroma1.it

13 Architecture Mesh Wireless Networks Radio network often referred as mesh cloud. Reliable and offers redundancy. Can self form and self heal. Can be implemented with various wireless technologies including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE, or combinations of more than one type. Mash network diagram. Image: infocom.uniroma1.it

14 Wi-Fi The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz spectrum, in which Wi-Fi operates, does not require licence (very cluttered, which makes the band prone to hackers and interference). Standardization of the technology through IEEE and Wi-Fi alliance allows for great interoperability. The large scale production of Wi-Fi chipsets has reduced the costs and increased the dissemination of the technology.

15 4G Networks The 2 most successful flavors of 4G are: WiMAX and LTE. Advantages Similar to Wi-Fi but at higher speeds (100 Mbps), over greater distances (50km) and for a greater number of users. Disadvantages: Tower costs. WiMAX and LTE enabled clients are not as common as Wi-Fi clients. WiMAX underlying technology is the same as LTE s. Image: computer.howstuffworks.com

16 Hybrids Hybrid Wi-Fi and cellular mesh network. Image: Reinwand et al. (2007) Prior to the deployment of the Wi-Fi mesh network, passengers lost cellular connection as soon as they entered a tunnel.

17 Topics Introduction Deployment motivation Technologies Economic aspects Case studies Discussion

18 Economic Aspects Business Models Municipal Wi-Fi business models according to Bar & Park (2006).

19 Economic Aspects Causes Financial Struggles Reaching critical mass. Not understanding the technology. Bad management and lack of long term planning.

20 Topics Introduction Deployment motivation Technologies Economic aspects Case studies Discussion

21 Case Studies San Francisco Request for a proposal: Network to be built, operated and maintained at no cost to the city. Basic level of the service should be free. Premium services can be charged but price should be lower than the existing alternatives. Entire city should be covered. Outdoors must cover 95% of the city, indoors 90% of all residential and commercial buildings.

22 Case Studies San Francisco Proposals: Consortium EarthLink & Google Metro WiFi NextWLAN RedTap Seakay non profit Consortium, partnering with Cisco & IBM

23 Case Studies San Francisco Salient models: RedTap: Cooperative model: Training + Wi-Fi PCs and laptops for underserved residents. Cisco & IBM partnered with Seakay: Finance project through nonprofit fundraising and in kind donations.

24 Case Studies San Francisco Process: Committee evaluated proposals and did oral interviews. EarthLink and Google won. After win, final contract negotiations lasted for 6 months. Contract signed (Jan 2007) City council and city s public utilities commission had to approve by Jun 2007.

25 Case Studies San Francisco Process: Discussions on antenna aesthetics on city poles, privacy, weather the city should build and operate own network, keep project stalled at City council. On July 2007 mayor announces issue will be on election ballot of Nov EarthLink announces withdrawal from project (August 2007). By end of the study (mid 2008) no mayor wireless initiative announcements.

26 Case Studies San Francisco Current state: Wi-Fi service in selected areas and parks of the city (ov. 2014). The map shows both active and planned wireless service. Image: sfgov.org

27 Case Studies Chihuahua, Mexico. Inception: Announced in Oct parks and touristic corridor. Plan to cover 95% of the city. Coverage of the network at project launch. Image: Google maps, Chihuahua Ciudad Digital.

28 Case Studies Chihuahua, Mexico. Motivation: Strengthen the police force. Savings: Intensive usage of private cellular network was too costly (all police systems).

29 Case Studies Chihuahua, Mexico. Alternative uses: Extension of the services to schools, underprivileged neighborhoods and rural areas. Along with hardware donations and training centers. Equipment of 500 police cars, deployment of 48 street cameras and 40,000 panic buttons. Digitalization of municipal services. Integration of municipal systems allows the creation of a unified center for citizen care/customer service.

30 Case Studies Chihuahua, Mexico. Alternative uses: Monitoring of the transit system improves times and logistics. Free internet access in public transit. Digital patient records and telemedicine including connection to other health centers in and outside the country.

31 Case Studies Chihuahua, Mexico. Future applications: Integration among all hospitals and health centers in the municipality (in process). Plans for a smart street lighting system. Further integration towards a smart city. Smart street lighting prototype. Image: elheraldodechihuahua.com.mx

32 Case Studies Lessons Learned: Infrastructure has unlimited number of applications. Importance of a long term plan. Municipal Wireless Networks solve real problems now. Connected city. Image: petalosdemanzanilla.weebly.com

33 Topics Introduction Deployment motivation Technologies Economic aspects Case studies Discussion

34 Discussion Do municipal wireless networks violate free market? To what extent should government involvement be allowed? What could be the consequences?

35 Discussion Do municipal wireless networks affect citizen privacy? To what extent should this be allowed?

36 Discussion What is the future of municipal wireless networks in terms of technologies and applications?

37 Discussion How can municipal wireless networks overcome financial struggles?

38 VIDEO TIME! Barcelona. Municipal Wireless Networks allow for the creation of smart cities!

Municipal Wireless in the US: Lessons from San Francisco and Beyond

Municipal Wireless in the US: Lessons from San Francisco and Beyond Heather E. Hudson Professor Communications Technology Management School of Business and Management University of San Francisco San Francisco