Spectrum Allocation for
Municipal Wireless
Mesh Networks
M. Hassan-Ali
H. Jones
H. Matsunaga
Agenda
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Project topic
Introduction
Motivation/justification for Municipal WMN
Issues with current WiFi spectrum
Recommendations for spectrum
Conclusion
Project topic
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Issue:
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Spectrum policy with Municipal Wireless Mesh
Network
Main results:
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FCC should allocate Low Frequency dedicated
spectrum for Municipal Wireless Mesh Backbone
The soon-vacated analog TV channels (700MHz)
would be ideal for this purpose
Introduction
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Wireless broadband
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Mesh type
Topologies
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WiMax
Mesh
Resiliency
Municipal
light pole
Low Frequency
Mesh (WiMax)
Spectrum allocation
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User side
Network side (Backbone)
801.11a/g
Low Frequency
Mesh (WiMax)
Motivation for MWN
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Digital divide
Public applications
Increase competition
z Baller’s “birch rod in the cupboard”
FDR, Baller notes, called municipal power systems “, to be
taken out and used only when the child gets beyond the
point where more scolding does any good.”
Justification for WMN
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Economically feasible
Currently less than 50% of
US households are
connected to BB.
Nomadic computing enabler
Who needs help urgently:
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Rural areas lack BB
Impoverished areas
Cable Modem
55.8%
All Other
Fiber 2.3%
2.0%
ADSL
37.7%
SDSL and Traditional
Wireline
2.1%
Source: FCC: HiSpdTables_0605_public
Impact of Muni WMN on
economy (Philadelphia view WCA05)
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Broadband availability allows local businesses to remain
competitive, operate more efficiently, and access more
consumers more quickly and thus grow faster.
Information businesses can start and locate anywhere they want,
and they tend to look for areas with educated workforces,
advanced infrastructures and high quality of life. Knowledge
workers expect and require advanced telecommunications
infrastructure
Broadband connections can improve education for students.
The Internet enables entrepreneurship, with wireless broadband
empowering smaller players to compete against larger and more
established companies.
The Internet enables government to deliver city and county
services at a lower cost.
Analysis Methodology
System
parameters
Network
effect
End-user
effect
Constraints imposed by WiFi
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Limitations of the current version of 802.11:
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ISM spectrum
High operating frequency
Power limitation
No. users per router
Graph removed for copyright reasons.
http://www.belairnetworks.com/resources/pdfs/Athens_WAGZone_BDMD00020_A01.pdf
Limitation of the current Mesh
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Throughput
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Low bit-rate delivered
to users.
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Scalability
Power limitation
Attenuation
Noise (ISM)
Line-of-sight
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High Operating
Frequency
Range
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More MGRs needed
Latency
Rural area limitation
Solutions
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Lower frequency
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Low attenuation
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Multi-radio
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Low interference
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Dedicated
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More coverage
More bandwidth
Lower cost
Better reliability
Low latency
Flexibility
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Power setting
Better performance
Recommendation (source)
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Allocate Mesh backbone from vacated
analogue TV
Based on the FCC’s TV (700MHz) NPRM2004
Courtesy of J. H. Snider. Used with permission.
http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Doc_File_2898_1.pdf
Recommendation (size)
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For 100Mbps WiFi backbone
Hence, allocation of 8 channels @ 700MHz;
Or 4 channels with 2x2 MIMO
Recommendation
(management)
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Dedicated spectrum model for municipal
WMNs
Initially we recommend the franchised model
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Reduce risk
Efficiency
Conclusion
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FCC should allocate at least 8 channels @
700MHz (unused TV spectrum) for municipal
WMNs.
This spectrum should be dedicated to
municipalities