Table of Contents

1. Table of Contents
2. Synopsis
3. Reasons
4. An example setup
5. Software
6. Access
7. Radio Telex
8. Encryption
9. The advantages over conventional telephone systems
10. Problems
11. Examples
12. Further reading

Synopsis

Set up a communication network that replaces expensive copper transmission wires with a system that piggy-backs on a local transportation system. Initially this would be aimed at education.

Reasons

• Computers are a part of our future.
• This is as true for developing countries as our own.
• For this to become a reality, computers must be a part of the education curriculum.
• The most important use for computers today is communication.

Additionally, there are some constraints - mostly financial. There are two parts of the cost equation - capital costs for equipment, and running costs of the operation.

An example setup

A school in Zululand wishes to teach computer skills to its students. Additionally, teachers at the school want access to teaching materials freely available on Internet. Also, we would like to arrange for Email access from the schools to the rest of Internet.

• The school will need a computer. While not belittling this requirement, we are not concerning ourselves with this problem, as it is common to any solution to this issue. It is a Capital costs issue.
• The school will need software to run on the computer.
• The school will need access - a term I use to describe how information gets to and from the school computer. In the West, we usually use a modem and a telephone line. This is not a method that such a school necessarily has access to, nor can it always afford this. Typically, in the West, this costs around $20/month.

Software

There is a large amount of free software currently available on Internet, and I would select Linux and the software that runs on this free Unix operating system as the basis for this project. Much of it is of high quality, and geared towards Internet, Email, and the World-wide web.

The Netscape browser runs on this platform, and is free.

Access

Radio Telex

Encryption

The advantages over conventional telephone systems

Problems

If we use portable mass storage, like ZIP drives, reliability of delivery might be a problem

If we use radio, securing the bandwidth is crucial for success

Radio Telexes must be left on all the time. The system depends on being able to route through (maybe) idle Radio Telexes. There is the possibility that someone may think it unreasonable to be paying for electricity just to route somebody else's mail.

There is no control over communication, or monitoring. Some would construe this as being a Good Thing.

Similar networks exist today. Two very relevant ones are the Amateur Packet Radio networks in the USA and Europe, and the Internet UUCP computer network

Examples

Further reading

• Wireless As An Internet On-Ramp & Local Loop By Pass
• Old Colorado City communications
• Sky-High Dreams for the Internet
• Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
• The Ricochet Wireless Network Overview
• Steve Stroh Secretary for Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR)
• Wireless In Ulaan Bataar Learning From A True-Life Mongolian Network Adventure
• Community networking 96
• Navas 28800-56K Modem FAQ Advanced technologies