Roberto Battiti
ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the evolution of W-LAN starting from the mere extension of LAN services indoors, through the widespread diffusion of outdoors coverage with free and often un-authorized access, to the business models supporting their evolution to public coverage HotSpots. Besides, the idea of Open Access Networks (OANs) going beyond wireless HotSpots to become a shared access infrastructure fostering service operators competition is introduced and discussed.The concept of Open Access Networks (OAN) is detailed, highlighting its difference with the more traditional model of vertical integration of the access network into the global service. Arguing on OANs development, it is shown how to support the quick and smooth evolution of the infrastructure toward a widespread and reliable communication support. References to existing projects, starting from StockholmOpen.net and Wilma are given.Business models are discussed by mentioning the different actors, the market organization and different organization forms.The final part of the paper is devoted to technical challenges such as access control, security, privacy, roaming, resource exploitation and service differentiation.
- B., Pehrson, "Open Communication," 2nd ASEM Conference, IKED, Malm\"o, SE, Mar. 2003Google Scholar
- B., Pehrson, K., Lundgren, L., Ramfelt, "Open.Net - Open Operator Neutral Access Networks", 12-th IEEE Workshop on Local and Metropolitan Area Networks, Stockholm, SE, Aug., 11--14 2002Google Scholar
- A., Escudero, B., Pehrson, E., Pelletta, J.O., Vatn, P., Wiatr, "Wireless access in the Flyinglinux.NET infrastructure: Mobile IPv4 integration in a IEEE 802.11b," 11-th IEEE Workshop on Local and Metropolitan Area Networks, Boulder, CO, USA, Mar. 2001Google Scholar
- E., Pelletta, F., Lilieblad, M., Hedenfalk, B., Pehrson, "The design and implementation of an Operator Neutral Open Wireless Access Network at the Kista IT-University," 12-th IEEE Workshop on Local and Metropolitan Area Networks, Stockholm, SE, Aug. ,11--14 2002Google Scholar
- M., Hedenfalk, Access Control in an Operator Neutral Public Access Network, MSc thesis, KTH/IMIT, Stockholm, May 2002,Google Scholar
- The Wilma Project --- http://www.wilmaproject.orgGoogle Scholar
- R., Battiti, M., Brunato, R., Lo Cigno, A., Villani, R., Flor, G., Lazzari, "WILMA: an open lab for 802.11 hotspots," in Proc. of Personal Wireless Communication -- PWC2003, Venezia, Italy, Sept. ,23--25, 2003Google Scholar
- The NoCatNet --- http://nocat.netGoogle Scholar
- Seattle Wireless --- http://www.seattlewireless.netGoogle Scholar
- Toronto TWCN --- http://www.esoterraka.com/twcnGoogle Scholar
- A list of Wireless Community networks (visited July 31, 2003) --- http://www.toaster.net/wireless/community.htmlGoogle Scholar
- R., Flickenger, Building Wireless Community Networks, 2-nd Edition O'Reilly & Associates, Jun. 2003, ISBN: 0-596-00502-4 Google ScholarDigital Library
- V., Kordas, E., Frankenberg, S., Grozev, B., Liu, N., Zhou, B., Pehrson, "Who should Own, Operate and Maintain an Operator Neutral Access Network?", 12-th IEEE Workshop on Local and Metropolitan Area Networks, Stockholm, SE, Aug. ,11--14 2002Google Scholar
- D., Liberal, O., Lundstrom, T., Rautiainen, P., Samlin, M., Setterberg, SwedenOpen.net?, Technical Report from a Communication Systems Design course project, KTH/IMIT, May 2003Google Scholar
- SwedenOpen.Net, Stockholm, SE --- http://www.swedenopen.netGoogle Scholar
- "Virtual Bridged Local Area Networks," IEEE Standard 802.1q, IEEE, 1998Google Scholar
- S.J. ,Vaughan-Nichols, "The challenge of Wi-Fi Roaming," ACM Computer, Jul. ,2003 Google ScholarDigital Library
- A., Stubblefield, J., Ioannidis, A.D., Rubin, "Using the Fluhrer, Mantin, and Shamir Attack to Break WEP," Proc. of 9-th Network and Distributed System Security Symposium (NDSS), San Diego, CA, USA, Feb. ,6--8, 2002Google Scholar
- "Port-Based Network Access Control," IEEE Standard 802.1x, IEEE, 2001Google Scholar
- C. Courcoubetis and R. Weber, Pricing Communication Networks, Economics, Technology and Modelling, Wiley, 2003. Google ScholarDigital Library
- J. Crowcroft, R. Gibbens, S. Hailes, BOURSE - Broadband Organisation of Unregulated Radio Systems through Economics", http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~jac22/out/bourse.pdfGoogle Scholar
- R., Battiti, M., Conti, E., Gregori, M., Sabel, "Price-based Congestion-Control in Wi-Fi Hot Spots," Proc. WiOpt'03, INRIA Sophia-Antipolis, France, Mar. 3--5, 2003,Google Scholar
- M., Brunato, R., Battiti, "PILGRIM: A Location Broker and Mobility-Aware Recommendation System," Proc. of IEEE PerCom 2003, First IEEE Annual Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications, Fort Worth, TX, USA, Mar. 2003 Google ScholarDigital Library
Index Terms
- Global growth of open access networks: from warchalking and connection sharing to sustainable business
Recommendations
Reviews
Kipp Jones
The authors introduce the concept of an open access network (OAN), and take the reader through the business, technical, and cultural issues associated with these network configurations. OAN is an extension to standard networks that stems from the desire to distinguish network services from the network itself, and from the need to find new methods for extending the network infrastructure without reliance on a single infrastructure provider. The proliferation of wireless networks has made these extensions possible without the need for wired infrastructure at the point of access. The paper provides a good background on the conceptual framework, reasoning, and issues associated with this new method of delivering network services. In particular, the authors discuss the business, political, and technical impediments to large-scale deployment. The authors do not delve deeply into the issues, but rather introduce the various aspects, and point towards potential solutions that may provide a path to success. Since this paper was published in 2003, there has continued to be interest in the OAN concept, although many of the issues discussed in this paper are still relevant, and are in need of further research to devise adequate solutions. Municipal wireless networks and wireless networks in developing countries may find OANs to be a means to reach a broader set of customers; this may provide a driving force for continued research. As the authors note, the technical issues are a challenge, but it is the business, financial, and legislative issues that will remain roadblocks to wide-scale adoption of the proposed network configuration. Online Computing Reviews Service
Access critical reviews of Computing literature here
Become a reviewer for Computing Reviews.
Comments