Return to CLS Bibliography Page
Date: Thu Jan 09, 1997 2:12 pm CST
From: David J. Loundy
EMS: INTERNET / MCI ID: 376-5414
MBX: David@loundy.com
TO: * Nicholas Johnson / MCI ID: 103-5393
Subject: cr> The Net comes to Ulaan Bator (fwd)
>Delivered-To: alias-loundy_dom/-David@Loundy.com
>Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 22:44:39 -0600 (CST)
>Reply-To: cpsrmidw@ecnet.net
>Sender: owner-cpsrmidw@ecnet.net
>From: Netiva Caftori <uncaftor@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>
>To: all cpsr listservs <cpsrmad@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>, cpsrmich@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu,
> cpsrmidw@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu, cpsr milwaukee <cpsr@csd.uwm.edu>,
> cpsrohio@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu, cpsrtwin@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
>Subject: cr> The Net comes to Ulaan Bator (fwd)
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>X-Authentication-Warning: ecom7.ecn.bgu.edu: uncaftor owned process doing -bs
>X-Sender: uncaftor@ecom7.ecn.bgu.edu
>
>Date: Wed, 8 Jan 1997 22:28:42 +0000
>
>In all the to do about cable, coax, and copper it's important we
>don't lose sight of alternative delivery mechanisms.
>
>Dave Hughes is one of the most informed and hands-on people I know
>working in the area of wireless technologies and the Internet.
>
>Craig
>======================================================
>(From: TELECOM Digest Tue, 7 Jan 97 08:58:00 EST Volume 17 :
>Issue 2)
>
>From: dave@oldcolo.com (Dave Hughes)
>Subject: Re: Internet by Satellite
>Date: 5 Jan 1997 15:26:50 GMT
>Organization: occ
>Reply-To: dave@oldcolo.com
>
>In <telecom16.688.6@massis.lcs.mit.edu>, robgordon@usa.net (Rob
>Gordon) writes:
>
>> INTERNET BY SATELLITE (Repost from Technology Transfer in
>> International Development)
>
>> I have developed an interest in the technology of establishing
>> Internet connections by satellite and I would like to identify others
>> with similar business interests.
>
>> I made the trip to Comdex and was shocked that, at this showcase of
>> advanced American technology, I could find almost no one who even
>> understood what I was trying to accomplish. Technology firms
>> apparently are not oriented to doing business in countries where there
>> is no technology infrastructure...
>
>> ...the world do not. I think that satellite technology will be the only
>> way to deliver the information revolution to millions of people in the
>> developing world where there is a poor telecommunications infrastructure.
>
>> I would be very interested in learning if there are other companies or
>> individuals who are considering working with this technology. If
>> possible, I would like to share information on potential customers,
>> technical approaches, regulatory issues, investment strategies and any
>> other issues involving establishing new ISPs in the developing world.
>
>Yes, others indeed are working with ways and means to connect up third
>world countries, and are doing it sucessfully. (Use of satellites is
>only one approach; fiber is reaching even more world cities.)
>
>If you visit our 'NSF Wireless Field Tests' web site
>(http://wireless.oldcolo.com) you will see, besides our work in the US
>rural '3d world' (as far as technology and infrastructure is
>concerned) using spread spectrum no-licence digital radios to solve
>that 'last mile' problem, the initial reports on our project just
>completed in Mongolia. Linking 8 sites in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, to
>the Internet, via a combination of 128Kbs PamSat, Sprintlink satellite
>feed , and 115kbs spread spectrum Free Wave radios from 1 to 10km.
>
>Mongolian herdsmen can now ride their Manchurian ponies up to their
>National Library, go in, and 'surf the net' - reaching the first
>several kilometers to the ground station by wireless, and the rest of
>the net via satellite. (You can access their web site www.magic.mn,
>and make reservations to stay in a 'ger' - traditional mobile
>Mongolian tent - as a hotel room. Sorry, we haven't got one of the 12
>volt, battery powered, solar rechargable spread spectrum radios with
>RS232 port rigged yet, so you can access the net from the tent with a
>laptop. But everything in its time. :-)
>
>Right now some of our work is for the National Science Foundation with
>some very interested other parties in our findings and experience,
>both in the US and in 3d world countries. Which findings, of course,
>address lots more than just the 'technology' required to do this. Your
>comments seem to imply suprise at these 'other factors, which are
>often the biggest and costliest, problems. And which also deters some
>large US companies from trying to get into the third world telecom
>business, regardless of the size of the potential 'market.' We are
>dealing with the whole range of planning, permissions (US and
>foreign), initial and continuing economics, training, maintainance,
>support, and infrastructure 'development.' And of course, always aware
>of, and never suprised by, the 'politics' of PTTs, foreign
>governments, and even of international corporations which have reasons
>to resist, and fear such practical solutions to bringing the net to
>the 3d world. Some US companies seem to think its almost Un-American
>to show other countries how to connect up to the Internet cheaply and
>well.
>
>Even in the US there is much fear & loathing by large communications
>companies - especially telcos - in the successful use of no-licence
>digital radios in rural areas - with no corresponding local
>'communications costs' - where they have been convinced that only they
>will be retained to connect - at whatever T-1 long line recurring
>costs - communities to the Internet. US West, here in Colorado,
>forbids their 'teachers' of communities in Internet telecom to use the
>term 'wireless' in their presentations to rural folk, while we merrily
>are linking schools from half a mile to 30 miles by no-licence
>wireless. (in one urban case we report on, the wireless bid was
>$900,000 cheaper than wired telco, up front, and $144,000 a year
>cheaper (in fact 'no annual cost') to operate. Between 22 sites, with
>minimum speed 2Mbps. Both reliable and secure. And the latest radios
>can do 10Mbps over 25 miles, no-licence where the radio cost can be
>amortized in less than a year.
>
>At the moment I am reaching you from my 'home office' to and through
>our Old Colorado City Communications 'office-office' at 1Mbps, no comm
>cost using Israeli-built Breezecom radios we are testing - which we
>will presently hook up to 7 miles at 3Mbps, for capital costs of less
>than $1,500 per radio. And drop our telco local loop lines.
>
>So its the combination of satellite (or fiber terminating in a city),
>the digital wireless, AND very careful attention to what they are
>connected to and through in-country, and who is going to operate it
>after installation, as well as end-to-end economics that requires
>expertise you won't find on display shelves at Comdex. We have it,
>its growing, and we know we are right. Ask any decendent of Ghengis
>Khan.
>
>
>Dave Hughes
>dave@oldcolo.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>=======================================================
>
> ~ CYBER-RIGHTS ~
> ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~-~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>Visit The Cyber-Rights Library, accessible via FTP or WWW at:
>
>ftp://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/nii/cyber-rights/Library/
>http://www.cpsr.org/cpsr/nii/cyber-rights/Library/
>
>You are encouraged to forward and cross-post list traffic,
>pursuant to any contained copyright & redistribution restrictions.
>
>~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~-~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Return to CLS Bibliography Page