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Wimax and Wi-fi rural

What technology can blast data up to seven times faster and a thousand times further than Wi-Fi?

Officially known as IEEE 802.16, WiMax could be the broadband story of 2004, thanks to backing from industry heavyweights like Intel, Nokia and Alcatel. Analysts expect it to account for anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent of the wireless market within ten years -- and products haven't even shipped yet.

While Wi-Fi hot spots provide wireless Internet access over distances of up to 100 feet, Wi-Max networks cover distances up to 30 miles. This means it has the potential to provide broadband access in rural areas that are too far from exchanges to provide wired or Wi-Fi access.

Distances up to 30 miles

"The biggest potential market for WiMax is residential users and small businesses," says Richard Dineen, a research director with Ovum. WiMax is also likely to be used in places like campus sites, says Jeff Orr, product marketing manager at wireless hardware vendor Proxim. "There could be a company's headquarters, its manufacturing plant and a few remote locations all within close proximity to one another," he says. "To use a wired fibre-optic solution to network all of these buildings together would be an extremely expensive proposition. WiMax could offer a better total cost of ownership than a wired solution because recurring monthly costs of multiple T-1 and E-1s could be avoided and would come at a much lower cost than trenching."

Wi-fi web reaches farmers in Peru

A network of community computer centres, linked by wireless technology, is providing a helping hand for poor farmers in Peru.

The pilot scheme in the Huaral Valley, 80 kilometres north of the capital Lima, aims to offer the 6,000-strong community up-to-date information on agricultural market prices and trends.

The Agricultural Information Project for Farmers of the Chancay-Huaral Valley also provides vital links between local organisations in charge of water irrigation, enabling them to coordinate their actions.

More than 13,000 rural inhabitants, as well as 18,000 students in the region, will also benefit from the telecoms infrastructure.

Training in net skills

The 14 telecentres uses only free open source software and affordable computer equipment. The network has been three years in the making and was officially inaugurated in September.

Huaral valley network

14 telecentres Two in the city, with ADSL link to the net 12 interconnected through wi-fi Wi-fi equipment and aerials built locally Only open source software used One high-spec server in each centre Average five low-spec terminals in each centre The non-government organisation, Cepes (Peruvian Centre for Social Studies) led the $200,000 project, also backed by local institutions, the Education and Agriculture ministries, and European development organisations.

"The plan includes training on computers and internet skills for both operators and users of the system," said Carlos Saldarriaga, technical coordinator at Cepes.

Farmers are also taking extra lessons on how to apply the new information to make the most of their plots of land.

The Board of Irrigation Users which runs the computer centres, aims to make the network self-sustainable within three years, through the cash generated by using the telecentres as internet cafes.

Telecommunications in Peru acording Osiptel

The urban and peri-urban in Peru may take several forms. Certain areas are beyond the coverage of existing networks, and would require a build-out of new facilities in order for services to become available to potential users. Existing networks cover a particular area, but there is not enough capacity and the facilities would need to be expanding to accommodate unmet demand or reach new urban development. Service is available but the residents cannot afford the service at current rates and conditions. Our analysis applies to all forms of the problem; from time to time we refer to one or another specifically as the case may be.

We believe that inn Peru, as proven elsewhere, even the poorest people are willing to pay for telecommunications services. Low-income markets have a business potential. The challenge for the regulator is to enable a wide range of possible service providers, business models, and technologies to address these markets, and for the operators to tailor their service offerings to the particular needs and means of low-income users. Although much of Peru’s population is poor, living in urban areas without essential services or in scattered rural and remote areas, this does not detract from the benefits of adopting of adopting basically a market approach to delivering telecommunications services to them.

Wimax to plug rural broadband gap

Wimax could bring broadband to rural areas Intel foresees a bright future for Wimax in rural areas, developing countries and as a successor to wi-fi. The technology may not be familiar to many, but Intel wants to put it firmly on the global broadband map.

For developing nations, with poor fixed communication infrastructure, Wimax could offer a vital link to the digital world. Providing the silicon for Wimax modems is an important first step in its journey from pipedream to reality.

Filling the gaps

There have already been around 100 trials of the technology around the world and products are likely to be commercially available within two years.

Wimax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) has, on paper, a lot going for it. Theoretically it can provide data rates of up to 70 mbps over distances of up to 50 km, although its actual range is dictated by many variables, including topography, environmental conditions and network capacity.