Dacknet Seminar Report

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
As a government representative enthusiastically talks about the new telephone for a
village in remote rural India, a villager asks, “Who am I going to call? I don’t know anybody
who owns a telephone.” Yet, despite this sensible observation, a phone is dutifully installed as
part of the current government mandate to connect villages to neighbouring towns. Although
some villagers do use the phone occasionally, most still travel sometimes days to talk to family
or to obtain the forms and other data that citizens in developed nations can call up on a computer
in a matter of seconds.

In short, the goal of “broadband connectivity for everyone” has been shelved in favor
of cutting back to the minimum possible standard telephone service in the mistaken belief that
this is the cheapest way to provide connectivity. This compromise is particularly tragic given
recent advances in wireless technology, which make running a copper line to an analog
telephone far more expensive than broadband wireless Internet connectivity. Rather than
backpedal on the goal of connecting everyone, society should be thinking, How can we establish
the kernel of a user network that will grow seamlessly as the village’s economics develop? In
other words,what is the basis for a progressive, market-driven migration from government seed
services- e-governance -to universal broadband connectivity that local users will pay for?

DakNet, an ad hoc network that uses wireless technology to provide asynchronous digital
connectivity, is evidence that the marriage of wireless and asynchronous service may indeed be
that kernel -the beginning of a road to universal broadband connectivity. Developed by MIT
Media Lab researchers, DakNet has been successfully deployed in remote parts of both India and
Cambodia at a cost two orders of magnitude less than that of traditional landline solutions.
Villagers now get affordable Internet services-and they’re using them. As one man in a small
village outside of New Delhi remarked, “This is better than a telephone!”

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CHAPTER 2
MOBILE AD HOC NETWORK
A mobile ad hoc network (MANET), sometimes called a mobile mesh network, is a self-
configuring network of mobile devices connected by wireless links. The ad hoc networks are a
new wireless networking paradigm for mobile hosts. Unlike traditional mobile wireless
networks, ad hoc network do not rely on each other to keep the network connected. It represent
complex distributed systems that comprise wireless mobile nodes that can freely and
dynamically self-organize into arbitrary and temporary, “ad-hoc” network topologies, allowing
people and devices to seamlessly internetwork in areas with no pre-existing communication
infrastructure.

Ad hoc networking concept is not a new one, having been around in various forms for
over 20 years. Traditionally, tactical networks have been the only communication networking
application that followed the ad hoc paradigm. Recently, the introduction of new topologies such
as Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 and Hyperlan are helping enable eventually commercial MANET
deployment outside the military domain. These recent evolutions have been generating a
renewed and growing interest in the research and development of MANET.

The Applications of ad hoc network are,

 Tactical networks
 Sensor network
 Emergency Services
 Educational Applications
 Entertainment
 Location Aware Services

Wi-Fi

In 1997, the IEEE adopted the first wireless local area network standard, named IEEE
802.11, with data rates up to 2 Mbps. Since then, several task groups have been created to extend
the IEEE 802.11 standard. Task groups 802.11b and 802.11a have completed their work by

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providing two relevant extensions to the original standard, which are often referred to with the
friendly name of Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). The 802.11b task group produce a standard for
WLAN operations in 2.4GHz band, with data rate up to 11 Mbps and backward compatibility.

Advantages of Wi-Fi are;

 Uses an unlicensed part of radio spectrum.

 Frees network devices from cables,thus enabling a convenient and dynamic
network to grow.

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi are;

 It uses a 2.4 GHz spectrum which is already crowded with other devices such as
Bluetooth, Microwave ovens.
 Power Consumption is fairly high.
 Limited Range of network.

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CHAPTER 3
WHAT IS DAKNET?
As the implementation of very low cost asynchronous communications infrastructure, we
have developed a store-and-forward wireless ad-hoc network for rural connectivity known as
Daknet. The name derives from the Hindi word “dak” which means “post” or “postal”. The
Daknet wireless network takes advantage of existing communications and transportation
infrastructure to distribute digital connectivity to outlying villages lacking digital communication
infrastructure. Daknet combines physical means of transportation with wireless data transfer in
order to extend the internet connectivity provided by a central uplink or hub to kiosks in
surrounding villages.

Daknet, an ad hoc network that uses wireless technology to provide asynchronous digital
connectivity, is evidence that the marriage of wireless and asynchronous service may lead to the
beginning of a road to universal broad band connectivity.

In short, the goal of “broad band connectivity for everyone” has been shelved in favor of
cutting back to the minimum possible standard telephone service in the mistaken belief that this
is the cheapest way to provide connectivity.

WHY DAKNET?
Real time communications need large capital investment and hence high level of user
adoption to receiver costs. The average villager cannot even afford a personal communication
device such as telephone or computer. To recover cost, users must share communication
infrastructure. Real time aspect of telephony can also be a disadvantage. Studies show that the
current market for successful rural Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services
does not appear to rely on real-time connectivity, but rather on affordability and basic
interactivity. The poor not only need digital services, but they are willing and able to pay for
them to offset the much higher costs of poor transportation, unfair pricing, and corruption.

It is useful to consider non real-time infrastructures and applications such as voice mail,
e-mail, and electronic bulletin boards. Technologies like store-and-forward or asynchronous
modes of communication can be significantly lower in cost and do not necessarily sacrifice the

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functionality required to deliver valuable user services. In addition to non real-time applications
such as e-mail and voice messaging, providers can use asynchronous modes of communication to
create local information repositories that community members can add to and query.

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CHAPTER 4
DAKNET ARCHITECTURE
The main parts of Daknet are,

 Hub
 Mobile Access Point (MAP)
 Kiosk

HUB

An Ethernet hub, active hub, repeater hub, multiport repeater or hub is a device for
connecting multiple Ethernet devices together and making them act as a single network segment.
It has multiple input/output (I/O) ports, in which a signal introduced at the input of any port
appears at the output of every port except the orginal incoming.

Fig 4.1 Picture of a Hub

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MOBILE ACCESS POINT

Daknet offers data to be transmitted over short point-to-point links. It combines physical
and wireless data transport to enable high bandwidth intranet and internet connectivity among
kiosks (public computers) and between kiosks and hubs (places with reliable Internet
connection). Data is transported by means of mobile access point, which automatically and
wirelessly collects and delivers data from/to each kiosk on the network. Low cost Wi-Fi radio
transceivers automatically transfer the data stored in the MAP at high bandwidth for each point-
to-point connection.

Fig 4.2.Daknet Enabled bus installed with MAP equipment

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KIOSK

An interactive kiosk is a computer terminal featuring specialized hardware and software

designed within a public exhibit that provides access to information and applications for
communication, commerce, entertainment, and education.

Kiosks are installed at public places like ATM, Schedule displaying screen on airport etc.
In Daknet, kiosk acts as the terminal that provides public internet access.

Fig 4.3.Picture of a Kiosk

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CHAPTER 5
DAKNET OPERATION

A simple store-and-forward Wi-Fi system, using a government bus has a central linkage.
The bus contains a simple Wi-Fi installation and server, and when in range of one of the outlying
information kiosks it synchronizes data for later processing.

Daknet is a patented wireless package that does away with base stations. Daknet offers a cost-
effective network for data connectivity in regions lacking communications infrastructure. Instead
of trying to relay data over long distances, which can be expensive, Daknet transmits data over
short point-to-point links between kiosks and portable storage devices called Mobile Access
Points (MAP). Mounted and powered on a bus or motorcycle with a small generator MAP
physically transports data between public kiosks and private communication devices and
between kiosks and hub (for non real-time internet access). Low cost Wi-Fi radio transfer data
stored in MAP at a high banfwidth for each point-to-point connection.

Daknet has thus two functions:

 As the MAP equipped vehicle comes within the range of a village Wi-Fi enabled
kiosk it automatically senses the wireless connection and uploads and downloads
tens of mega bytes of data.
 As it comes in the range of Internet access points (the hub) it automatically
synchronizes the data from kiosks using the internet.

These steps repeat or all the vehicles carrying MAP, thus providing a low cost wireless
network and seamless communication infrastructure. Even a single vehicle passing by a village is
sufficient to carry the entire daily information. The connection quality is also high.

Although daknet does not provide real time data transport, a significant amount of data can
move at once typically 20MB in one direction.

Thus asynchronous broadband connectivity offers a stepping stone to always on broadband

infrastructure and end user applications. Daknet makes it possible for individual households and
private users to get connected.

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Fig 5.1.Daknet Network Architecture

Each time the MAP on the bus comes within the range of a kiosk to transfer data it is
referred to as a “session”. The average length of a session is 02:34(MM:SS) during which an
average of 20.9MB can be transferred uni-directionally (from kiosk to MAP) and up to twice that
amount bi-directionally (from kiosk to MAP and MAP to kiosk). The average Good put (actual
data throughput) for a session, during which the MAP and kiosk go in and out of connection due
to mobility and obstructions, is 2.47Mb/sec.

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CHAPTER 6
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

1) Store and forward network

Daknet allows rural villages to exchange messages and video through a mobile ISP. By
mounting a wireless card on a vehicle that travels around to remote villages and exchanges
updated information with each kiosk it encounters through Wi-Fi.

Villagers are able to send messages and record videos through these kiosks. That data is
stored in outbox of the kiosk. When the mobile vehicle comes around it exchanges the data in the
outbox and in the inbox.

These awaiting messages are able to check the inbox for any messages or videos. All
information is downloaded to the central system at the office station.

Fig 6.1 Store and Forward Network

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2) Seamless scalability

In addition to its tremendous cost reduction, a critical feature of Daknet is its ability to
provide a seamless method of upgrading to always on broadband connectivity. As a village
increases its economic means, its inhabitants can use the same hardware, software, and user
interface to enjoy real time information access. The only change is the addition of fixed location
wireless antennas and towers , a change that is entirely transparent to end users because they
need not learn any new skills or buy any new hardware or software. The addition of fixed
transceivers would provide real tile connectivity, thus enabling new, more sophisticated services,
such as voice over IP, which allows “normal” real time telephony. Thus asynchronous broadband
wireless connectivity offers a practical stepping stone and migration path to always on,
broadband infrastructure and end user applications. Together with the development of two other
key rural communication components robust, low cost terminals and local user interface design
and applications. Daknet makes it practical for individual household and private users to get
connected.Cost effective

The total cost of the Daknet MAP equipment used on the bus is US$580, which includes a
custom embedded PC running Linux with 802.11 wireless card and 512MB CF memory, a
100mW amplifier, cabling, mounting equipment, and 14” omnidirectional antenna, and a UPS
that is powered by the bus battery. The average total cost of the equipment used to daknet enable
a village kiosk or hub is US$185. Assuming that each bus can provide connectivity to
approximately 10 villages, the average cost of Daknet enabling each village in this pilot was
US$243 ($185 at each village + $580 MAP cost/10).

A back of the envelope calculation for Daknet suggests that a capital investment of $15M
could equip 50,000 rural vehicles with a $300 MAP and there by provide intermittent broadband
connectivity to most of rural India. This is orders of magnitude lower in cost than current
alternatives for rural communications.

Costs for interactive user devices supported by Daknet are also far more affordable than
PCs or traditional WLL (Wireless Local Loop) equipment. New PDA (Personal Digital
Assistant) like devices using a daknet like wireless protocol retail for $100, with a manufacturing

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cost of approximately $50. These costs are being further reduced by “system on chip”
technology, with prototypes of wireless PDAs achievable at prices as low as $25.

DISADVANTAGES

 Since the nodes (MAP,Hub,Kiosk) communicate over the wireless links, they have to
contend with the effect of radio communication such as noise, fading and
interference.
 It provides only non real time data transfer functionality.

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CHAPTER 7
APPLICATIONS

 Internet/Intranet messaging: this can include e-mail, video/audio messaging, mobile e-

commerce.
 Information distribution/broadcasting: this can include community bulletin boards,
transfer of educational materials, public health announcements, news, music and video
broadcasts.
 Information collection: this can include collection of environmental sensor information,
voting, census/polling, health records, and land records.
 Rural supply chain management: by incorporating global positioning systems the
Daknet network can also function as a means of tracking the movement of vehicles and
shipment of goods in a geographical area.
 Information searching, web services: by incorporating new types of Internet
applications that are designed for non real-time access, many new web related
applications can be developed for the rural market.

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CHAPTER 8
CONCLUSION

Daknet’s low deployment cost and enthusiastic reception by rural users has motivated dozens of
inquiries for further deployments. This provides millions of people their first possibility for
digital connectivity. Increasing connectivity is the most reliable way to encourage economic
growth.

The larger goal is to shift the policy focus of the Governments’s universal service
obligation funds from wireless village telephones to wireless ad hoc networking.

The shift will probably require formal assessment for user satisfaction, resulting economic
growth and system reliability.

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REFERENCES

[1]http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?
tp=&arnumber=1319279&contentType=Journals+%26+Magazines&queryText%3Ddaknet

[2] www.daknet.net

[3] http://www.digitaldividend.org/case/case.htm (accessed March 11, 2005)

[4] http://courses.media.mit.edu/2003fall/de/DakNet-Case.pdf

[5] en.wikipedia.org

[6] www.SeminarsTopics.com

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