Numericanal Project, WP1A2

Transcription

1 Numericanal Project, WP1A2 Questionnaire for Availability and Use of Communication Technologies (return for CRT) 24 July 2013 Simon McGarraghy

2 Page 2 of 15 CONTENTS Automatic Identification System AIS Error! Bookmark not defined. River Information Services - RIS 3 Other Technology dedicated to Navigaion Support 3 Generic Communication Technologies 3 Mobile network provision Error! Bookmark not defined. Network predictive coverage maps 5 Wifi Networks 9 Appendix A- Ireland 10

3 Page 3 of 15 AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AIS The AIS system is in use around the UK in coastal and tidal waters. It is used is in line with SOLAS regulations in these waters for commercial shipping. There is no compulsory requirement for this system on leisure craft on our inland waterways River Information Services - RIS I cannot find any UK involvement in the RIS initiative and do not think that it is being deployed in the UK. Other Technology dedicated to Navigaion Support The other main system for communications, signalling and information exchange in support of navigation on the waterway is the Marine band VHF radio systems. Again these are predominantly in tidal waters; however there is significant use on the inland waterways. Indeed many inland waterway pleasure craft use the larger freight waterways, to move between different parts of the waterway network. These can range from canals such as the Gloucester & Sharpness, through river navigations like the Aire & Calder or the Weaver, to tidal waters such as the Thames, the Humber system, the Mersey, the Severn and Witham estuaries Generic Communication Technologies Mobile telephone network provision Mobile telephony is rapidly changing and therefore network coverage is a constantly changing picture as providers build change and adapt their networks. The strength or quality of the mobile coverage is largely determined by proximity to a mobile phone network tower. Mobile phone coverage is generally better in urban areas, although even in cities there are 'dead zones' where there is no mobile coverage. These 'dead zones' normally occur where signal between the mobile handset and the mobile phone network cell antenna is blocked. Mobile phone signal can be blocked by tunnels, hills or dense tall buildings. Rural areas with a smaller population have less physical interference but often are too far away from a mast for good signal. All mobile phone networks have good coverage in some areas and weaker coverage in others. As more networks are building bases and putting up masts around the country, the mobile phone coverage in the UK is becoming increasingly better. There will still be areas where some networks have weaker mobile coverage. Each of the main networks providers allows users to check local coverage via their web sites. In the UK there are three main mobile telephony systems the older 2G (generally on GSM 900, GSM 1800 frequencies), the most prevalent 3G and the emerging new 4G networks. There are many mobile operators and providers in the UK. However there are basically 4 network providers. They are, O2, Vodafone, 3 (Three) and EE (the new 4G supplier who is parent to Orange and T -mobile). All the other operators have a virtual network which means that they are tied in to one of the four for their network provision.

4 Page 4 of 15 Popular Virtaul network operators Mobile Operator Network provider Asda Mobile Vodafone Blyk EE, T- Mobile/Orange BT Mobile Vodafone Giffgaff O2 Lebara Mobile Vodafone Talk Mobile Vodafone Tesco Mobile O2 Vectone EE, T- Mobile/Orange Virgil Mobile EE, T- Mobile/Orange

5 Page 5 of 15 Mobile Network predictive coverage maps for main Network providers O 2 3 G coverage map O2 3G Network

6 Page 6 of 15 EE (T-Mobile / Orange) 2, 3 & 4G Network coverage

7 Page 7 of 15 Vodafone 3 G Network

8 Page 8 of 15 3 (Three) Network coverage 2 &3G

9 Page 9 of 15 Wi-Fi Connectivity Wi-Fi networks are the emerging wireless broad band technologies and there is a building network of free access Wi-Fi Hot spots. These networks tend to prove faster and more reliable that 3G broadband and with the increasing free access, it is worthy of mention. The emergence of free Wi-Fi is currently predominantly in urban areas and again available through a number of providers and many offer Wi-Fi access in public places. By way of example, BT Wi-Fi (formally known as BT Openzone) has more than 4.5 million Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the UK and Ireland, plus another 3 million overseas through BT Fon. This network will only increase, BT Wi-Fi hotspots have increased by 40% in the last year alone. There are also city Centre s of Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Waltham Forest and Westminster which are known as 'wireless cities', as they all have BT Wi-Fi city centers. In broader terms there are several providers who are starting to offer free Wi-Fi access which will become more prevalent and wider spread. An example of a pan European provider would be the cloud which is already widely spread in town centres. These hot spots tend to be easily found with a search from the device and a one-time sign in process. There are of course lots of Apps available to help find hot spots and free Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi hot spots coverage map

10 Page 10 of 15 BT Wi-Fi Hot Spot network

11 Page 11 of 15 Appendix A Mobile networks in Ireland The mobile network situation in Ireland is included here to give a fuller picture as there is currently no partner on the project for Ireland. These coverage maps are from operators and can only be taken as an indication of the level of network coverage. In Ireland there appears to be four Network providers, being O2, Vodafone, 3(Three) and Meteor (who are the mobile arm of Eircom, Irelands National telecoms provider). There seems to be on free access Wi-Fi network currently in Ireland.

12 Page 12 of 15 Mobile Network predictive coverage maps for Network providers in Ireland O2.ie - 3G Network

13 Page 13 of 15 Vodafone.ie -2G Network Vodafone.ie -3G Network

14 Page 14 of 15 Three.ie -3G Network Three.ie -2G Network

15 Page 15 of 15 Meteor mobile - Network