scholarly journals Broadband for Remote and Rural Communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Wireless Internet ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Internet Connectivity

<p>Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) networks are an essential part of providing Internet connectivity in remote and rural areas. Typically operating where large commercial Internet service providers deem it financially unviable to do so, WISPs frequently deal with sparse population densities and financial constraints that inhibit reliable network performance. Venture Networks, a research partner, and a WISP that serves the rural Horowhenua Region, has observed that many WISPs fail to become sustainable businesses, and pondered what could be done to improve outcomes for those providing Internet access where limited other options exist. This research proposes to investigate what commercial opportunities may exist for assisting WISP operators to run their networks in an easier, sustainable manner. </p> <p>To encourage the ubiquitous deployment of high-performance WISP networks, it was recognised that first the unique challenges faced by WISP operators on a wide scale must be understood. A Grounded Theory research methodology was adopted, and a study was conducted to develop an objective understanding of issues commonly encountered by WISP network operators. Interviews were conducted with WISP network operators, digital advocacy organisations, and network engineering consultants. Interview participants came primarily from New Zealand and North America. Of the New Zealand participants, nearly every WISP known to operate within the country was interviewed. </p> <p>Results of the Grounded Theory study helped to isolate a potential Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and formed the basis for product development and commercialisation. It was shown that start-up and established WISPs frequently lack the technical knowledge to design and implement high-performance networks. Unsurprisingly, a WISP operator that does not thoroughly understand their network will struggle to operate it without difficulty. Consequently, it was proposed that developing a platform around the shortcomings in the knowledge that WISP operators have would be appropriate. Given the proposed platform would take form as a physical network appliance, it was decided that initially leveraging a disruptive, solution provider business model would be appropriate. The business model chosen enables Venture Networks to work directly with other WISPs, ideally forming long-term relationships through a customer-centric approach. </p> <p>Venture Networks has several engineering resources devoted to continued development of the proposed MVP, and envisions developing an ecosystem of products to assist WISPs in operating higher-performance, higher-reliability networks. Ongoing testing of the platform is being carried out with Venture Networks, and a small number of other WISPs selected during the interview phase of this research. Feedback from the trials is continuously integrated into revised versions on the platform. Development of the platform has been carried out using the Agile product development methodology, which enables feedback-responsive development and quick-to-release iterations of the platform. </p> <p>Upon final release, it is envisioned that the platform designed will not only enable WISPs to design and implement networks in a straightforward manner, but also offer significant cost-savings over alternative solutions available for sale today. For a prospective WISP operator without strong technical competencies, improving Internet connectivity in a remote or rural area would be a daunting challenge. The proposed MVP seeks to make such a task achievable. </p>

scholarly journals Broadband for Remote and Rural Communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Wireless Internet ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Internet Connectivity

<p>Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) networks are an essential part of providing Internet connectivity in remote and rural areas. Typically operating where large commercial Internet service providers deem it financially unviable to do so, WISPs frequently deal with sparse population densities and financial constraints that inhibit reliable network performance. Venture Networks, a research partner, and a WISP that serves the rural Horowhenua Region, has observed that many WISPs fail to become sustainable businesses, and pondered what could be done to improve outcomes for those providing Internet access where limited other options exist. This research proposes to investigate what commercial opportunities may exist for assisting WISP operators to run their networks in an easier, sustainable manner. </p> <p>To encourage the ubiquitous deployment of high-performance WISP networks, it was recognised that first the unique challenges faced by WISP operators on a wide scale must be understood. A Grounded Theory research methodology was adopted, and a study was conducted to develop an objective understanding of issues commonly encountered by WISP network operators. Interviews were conducted with WISP network operators, digital advocacy organisations, and network engineering consultants. Interview participants came primarily from New Zealand and North America. Of the New Zealand participants, nearly every WISP known to operate within the country was interviewed. </p> <p>Results of the Grounded Theory study helped to isolate a potential Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and formed the basis for product development and commercialisation. It was shown that start-up and established WISPs frequently lack the technical knowledge to design and implement high-performance networks. Unsurprisingly, a WISP operator that does not thoroughly understand their network will struggle to operate it without difficulty. Consequently, it was proposed that developing a platform around the shortcomings in the knowledge that WISP operators have would be appropriate. Given the proposed platform would take form as a physical network appliance, it was decided that initially leveraging a disruptive, solution provider business model would be appropriate. The business model chosen enables Venture Networks to work directly with other WISPs, ideally forming long-term relationships through a customer-centric approach. </p> <p>Venture Networks has several engineering resources devoted to continued development of the proposed MVP, and envisions developing an ecosystem of products to assist WISPs in operating higher-performance, higher-reliability networks. Ongoing testing of the platform is being carried out with Venture Networks, and a small number of other WISPs selected during the interview phase of this research. Feedback from the trials is continuously integrated into revised versions on the platform. Development of the platform has been carried out using the Agile product development methodology, which enables feedback-responsive development and quick-to-release iterations of the platform. </p> <p>Upon final release, it is envisioned that the platform designed will not only enable WISPs to design and implement networks in a straightforward manner, but also offer significant cost-savings over alternative solutions available for sale today. For a prospective WISP operator without strong technical competencies, improving Internet connectivity in a remote or rural area would be a daunting challenge. The proposed MVP seeks to make such a task achievable. </p>

scholarly journals ElasticWISP: Energy-Proportional WISP Backhaul Networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Duncan Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Traffic Engineering ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Flow State ◽  
Wireless Internet ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Wireless Backhaul ◽  
Backhaul Networks

<p>The provision of rural broadband infrastructure is a challenge for network operators across the globe, irrespective of their size. Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) have shown that the small-scale deployment of wireless broadband infrastructure is a viable alternative to relying on cellular network providers for remote coverage. However, WISPs must often resort to using off-grid renewable energy sources such as solar energy for powering network sites, often resulting in undesirable, low-performance backhaul radios being used between sites out of concern for excessive energy consumption.  The challenges of managing performant wireless backhaul networks in respect to energy constraints at remote, off-grid sites informs the need for energy-proportional design. Backhaul radios typically used by WISPs are not energy-proportional, meaning they use a consistent amount of energy, irrespective of wireless link utilisation. Using data from a real WISP network, diurnal traffic patterns show that WISP networks could benefit from energy-proportional design, without having to sacrifice performance.  To encourage the development of high-performance, energy-proportional WISP backhaul networks, ElasticWISP, an optimisation architecture that reduces network-wide backhaul energy consumption while satisfying the user-demand for traffic, is introduced. ElasticWISP dynamically controls the configuration of backhaul radios based on bandwidth demands and the network-wide energy consumption of these radios. Through simulations driven by real WISP topology and data traffic, results show that ElasticWISP can offer energy savings of approximately 65% when WISP operators follow the proposed backhaul design methodology.  Finally, a lightweight Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based traffic engineering scheme, based on Segment Routing, is proposed. The implementation, named Segment Routing over MPLS (SR-MPLS), keeps traffic engineering path-state within each packet, meaning per-flow state is only held at SR-MPLS ingress routers. The lightweight approach of SR-MPLS also eliminates the otherwise necessary network-wide label flooding of traditional Segment Routing, making it ideal for bandwidth-sensitive wireless backhaul networks. Evaluation of SR-MPLS shows that it can perform as well as – and sometimes better than – competitor schemes.</p>

Rural midwifery practice in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Strengths, vulnerabilities, opportunities and challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
Rea Daellenbach ◽  
Lorna Davies ◽  
Mary Kensington ◽  
Susan Crowther ◽  
Andrea Gilkison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Rural Practice ◽  
Midwifery Practice ◽  
Adverse Weather

Background: The sustainability of rural maternity services is threatened by underfunding, insufficient resourcing and challenges with recruitment and retention of midwives. Aims: The broader aim of this study was to gain knowledge to inform the optimisation of equitable and sustainable maternity care for rural communities within New Zealand and Scotland, through eliciting the views of rural midwives about their working conditions and practice. This article focuses on the New Zealand midwives’ responses. Method: Invitations to participate in an online questionnaire were sent out to midwives working in rural areas. Subsequently, themes from the survey results were followed up for more in-depth discussion in confidential, online group forums. 145 New Zealand midwives responded to the survey and 12 took part in the forums. Findings: The New Zealand rural midwives who participated in this study outlined that they are attracted to, and sustained in, rural practice by their sense of connectedness to the countryside and rural communities, and that they need to be uniquely skilled for rural practice. Rural midwives, and the women they provide care to, frequently experience long travel times and distances which are economically costly. Adverse weather conditions, occasional lack of cell phone coverage and variable access to emergency transport are other factors that need to be taken into account in rural midwifery practice. Additionally, many participants noted challenges at the rural/urban interface in relation to referral or transfer of care of a woman and/or a baby. Strategies identified that support rural midwives in New Zealand include: locum and mentoring services, networking with other health professionals, support from social services and community service providers, developing supportive relationships with other rural midwives and providing rural placements for student midwives. Conclusion: Midwives face economic, topographic, meteorological and workforce challenges in providing a service for rural women. However, midwives draw strength through their respect of the women, and the support of their midwifery colleagues and other health professionals in their community.

Refuting objections to a Global Rural Network (GRNet) for developing nations (originally published in August 2004)

First Monday ◽  
2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry Press
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Grand Challenge ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Developing Nation ◽  
Internet Connectivity

In a previous article, we suggested that it is now time to undertake a Grand Challenge project: providing Internet connectivity for every village in every developing nation. Doing so would require perhaps a decade and billions of dollars for design and planning, procurement, installation and operation. Critics object that such a project would not be worth the effort and investment. This article considers nine objections to such an undertaking. 1. Internet connectivity would be nice, but it is not a high priority. 2. Internet service has been offered in rural areas of developing nations, and there is little demand for it. 3. There are no applications of interest or value to illiterate rural people who do not speak English. 4. There is no sustainable business model. 5. Developing nations lack the people and resources to do research. 6. Even if the world community can justify sponsoring the research leading to a concrete backbone plan, developing nations cannot afford to implement it. 7. Villagers cannot afford to use the network even if the backbone transport and connection are free. 8. Developing nations cannot afford high–speed connectivity — low–cost store–and–forward technology is more appropriate technology for a poor, developing nation. 9. We should focus on cities where there is already demand, not rural areas. We discuss each of these, and conclude with a brief outline of next steps.

scholarly journals Music Industry: Toward A New Business Model?

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Koster
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Music Industry ◽  
Retail Stores ◽  
Music Downloading ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Legal Questions ◽  
New Business ◽  
The Usa

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;">The last ten years have seen many changes in the music industry, mainly caused by Internet music downloading, legal and illegal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The traditional business model of the recording music industry, based on the sales of CDs in retail stores, seems to be on its way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>No clear new model has emerged yet, but several trends are noticeable for the recording music industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>First, the decline of CD sales since the peak year of 2000 has accelerated, totaling 30% in the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Second the recording music industry is going through a restructuring, marked by sell offs and mergers among the recording labels, by the disappearance of music retail stores, and by the foray of the majors in new directions, such as concerts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Finally, revenues from digital music sales are increasing, partially compensating for the decrease in CD sales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Whereas the providers of content, namely the labels and the artists, can be seen as victims of music downloading, the providers of the technology have benefited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The sales of its iPod/iTunes systems have provided Apple&rsquo;s more revenues than the sales of its computers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Other manufacturers are also entering this market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Meanwhile, academics and policy makers have been studying new types of copyright licenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>One idea is to impose a global license, paid by Internet service providers, and repaid to them by Internet users.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Many technological and legal questions must be resolved for such a scheme to become viable.</span></p>

scholarly journals ElasticWISP: Energy-Proportional WISP Backhaul Networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Duncan Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Traffic Engineering ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Flow State ◽  
Wireless Internet ◽  
Internet Service ◽  
Wireless Backhaul ◽  
Backhaul Networks

<p>The provision of rural broadband infrastructure is a challenge for network operators across the globe, irrespective of their size. Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) have shown that the small-scale deployment of wireless broadband infrastructure is a viable alternative to relying on cellular network providers for remote coverage. However, WISPs must often resort to using off-grid renewable energy sources such as solar energy for powering network sites, often resulting in undesirable, low-performance backhaul radios being used between sites out of concern for excessive energy consumption.  The challenges of managing performant wireless backhaul networks in respect to energy constraints at remote, off-grid sites informs the need for energy-proportional design. Backhaul radios typically used by WISPs are not energy-proportional, meaning they use a consistent amount of energy, irrespective of wireless link utilisation. Using data from a real WISP network, diurnal traffic patterns show that WISP networks could benefit from energy-proportional design, without having to sacrifice performance.  To encourage the development of high-performance, energy-proportional WISP backhaul networks, ElasticWISP, an optimisation architecture that reduces network-wide backhaul energy consumption while satisfying the user-demand for traffic, is introduced. ElasticWISP dynamically controls the configuration of backhaul radios based on bandwidth demands and the network-wide energy consumption of these radios. Through simulations driven by real WISP topology and data traffic, results show that ElasticWISP can offer energy savings of approximately 65% when WISP operators follow the proposed backhaul design methodology.  Finally, a lightweight Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based traffic engineering scheme, based on Segment Routing, is proposed. The implementation, named Segment Routing over MPLS (SR-MPLS), keeps traffic engineering path-state within each packet, meaning per-flow state is only held at SR-MPLS ingress routers. The lightweight approach of SR-MPLS also eliminates the otherwise necessary network-wide label flooding of traditional Segment Routing, making it ideal for bandwidth-sensitive wireless backhaul networks. Evaluation of SR-MPLS shows that it can perform as well as – and sometimes better than – competitor schemes.</p>

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