A Glimpse On Outdoor WiFi Infrastructure

WiFi is based on Wireless LAN (WLAN) equipments. It is basically an Internet over radio using off-the-shelf user-friendly relatively low-cost Wireless LAN equipments to bypass Telco last mile about 5-8 km distances.

WiFi equipments are confirming the standard IEEE 802.11b or others, such as, IEEE 802.11a. We normally put an external antenna at the end of WiFi card. Such configuration may reach 5-8 km distances, a good enough distance to cover most medium size cities in developing countries

The IEEE 802.11b WLAN equipments are normally using 2.4GHz band & running at 11Mbps. Thus, it has a significantly higher speed as compared to traditional dial-up.

The WLAN card is normally installed at the router of an Office Network, InterNet Café or Neighborhood Network. We normally use Linux based PC as the router (or gateway) that enable inclusion of proxy function as well as Internet telephony gatekeeper (phone softswitch) into a single machine.

Neighborhood Net as well as InterNet café would be a very natural selection to reduce access cost to the Internet. Neighborhood Network is basically a LAN connection to the neighbors by running LAN cables to them.

Unfortunately, distance would be major drawback for WLAN (WiFi) technology. Thus, merging with fiber optics or satellite providers would be a natural strategic process for Community ICT infrastructure.

How does such configuration help ICT Development?

From cost point of few, a ready to use client side WiFi equipment would cost about US$150-200. A US$50-100 external antenna may be added to extend the range. Since it is very easy to make the antenna, it encourages home industries to produce such antenna and sell at US$15-20 each. A total cost in the range of US$250-300 is typical. For those who like to build your own PC based client WiFi equipment may get a much-reduced WiFi investment.

Share the WiFi investment with 10-20 computers in the neighborhood. It is safe to say that the WiFi-based infrastructure investment cost would be around US$25-30 per neighbor. In Indonesia, the operating cost is normally about US$15-45/house for 24-hour access.

To give some ideas, a typical cellular investment / subscriber is about US$300-400/subscriber. While, a typical fixed wire telephony network / public switch telephone network requires about US$1000/subscriber. Thus, WiFi-based infrastructure requires much less investment cost per subscriber than traditional Telco.