[kictanet] Community frequencies

Thu Dec 5 12:55:02 EAT 2013

Hi all,

It is always helpful to have information from the horses mouth and I was
fortunate to share a panel yesterday with Peter Bloom, one of the founders
of Rhizomatica, at an event here in Cape Town.  I had the opportunity to
ask him a bit more detail about the technology and spectrum they are using.

They are mostly using Fairwaves/OpenBSC technology and have found it scales
pretty well.  They are not using ISM bands but rather the same GSM (850MHz)
band that is the standard in North America, which means that anyone can use
a standard handset.  They currently serve roughly 1000 customers.

They managed to get access to a small amount of spectrum that wasn't
currently licensed by any of the existing MNOs.  Peter had this to say
about gaining access to the spectrum.

"The spectrum being available made it easier for them to meet our demands for
spectrum which were based on two things. First, the constitution which says
that an indigenous community has the right to own and operate its own media
infrastructure. And second, on the Telecom law which has an article that
states that whenever a frequency is not being used in a specific area by
the concession holder, that the ministry has the right and duty to assign
that frequency for social coverage purposes, or find other available and
relevant spectrum. So we went to the regulator with a letter signed by 30+
indigenous communities demanding spectrum and were asked to submit a formal
technical proposal for an experimental
license to use the un-assigned block of frequencies in the 850mhz band (8mhz
total)."

Regards... Steve

On 4 December 2013 16:28, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> @James,
>
> Yet again my faith in the tech community in Kenya has been re-enforced all
> because of your comprehensive contribution without the requirement for a
> per de em.
>
> When fax machines were introduced in the country one needed to apply for a
> special fax line and the reasons put forward were similar to those
> mentioned in your contribution.
>
> Later it was found out that the whole objective was to allow the security
> apparatus to know who owned which fax line so as to make snooping easier
> which seems like the same case here.
>
> I believe that if the government through the regulator had a genuine need
> to see the masses connected they would put in place the mechanism to make
> it possible.
>
> Today I can go to China and purchase 100 satellite phones and bring them
> in for use in any clandestine activity alternatively all we need is to
> setup a soft switch somewhere online and install a SIP client on smart
> phones creating a private and reasonably secure network.  How different is
> this from me putting up an antennae to provide communication over a 20 km
> radius?
>
> I believe you say the map I shared earlier that shows the penetration of
> the GSM network in the country and from it it is clear that a majority of
> the country is un-served.
>
> In the same way that SACCOs came up to meet a need for those deemed
> unprofitable to the large retail and commercial banks I feel that
> implementing the same model in communications will provide a similar
> impetus to better services for all.
>
> I am looking at a situation where a tea factory in Tharaaka can set-up a
> GSM network for use by its members in communicating with each other, this
> would result in a better standard of living and increased security in the
> region.
>
> Know that James has outlined the requirements as per the status quo can
> someone take it up from there and map a coherent way forward?
>
> Regards
>
> PS.  James, I had no intention of trying to proof that I can contribute as
> much as you did.
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
>
>    On Wednesday, 4 December 2013, 10:58, James Kulubi <jkulubi at yahoo.co.uk>
> wrote:
>   Thank you for the nice diagram that shows how to provide backhaul for
> voice, data and internet on Open BTS.
> From a policy perspective the key concerns with community-owned Base
> Transceiver Stations (BTS) as correctly mentioned by Robert will start with
> *(a)* frequencies but there are also issues of  *(b)* cost  *(c)*security.  I will try to discuss each of them briefly below.
> (a)    *Frequencies:* The traditional unlicensed frequencies used to
> serve the public in telecommunications and broadcasting  have been the
> Citizen band and the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) Band. Citizen
> band is a short-wave communication band consisting of 40 channels in the
> 26-28 MHz frequency range. In Kenya, the ISM band is as follows:
> 433.050-434.790MHz (Subject to approval), 2.400-2.500 MHz; 5.725-5.875 GHz,
> 24.000-24.250 GHz. Both citizen and ISM  bands were established long before
> the major developments that have revolutionized telecommunications leading
> to convergence and more recently 3G and 4G technology. In this regard,
> Island BTS may use the ISM band with while conforming to other existing CCK
> guidelines like transmitted power.
> (b)   *Cost*: Open BTS appears has very low start-up cost. In a way it
> appears as cheap as setting up a PBX system in a small organization.
> However, a public communication system tends to have some characteristics
> that are different from those of a PBX. First, the demand for services
> grows rapidly after the system is installed. This requires frequent
> upgrades both at the mobile-BTS (*Um Interface*) and at the backhaul end.
> Secondly the number of customers served can radically increase for instance
> when there is a baraza or market day, the population can more than double
> in a remote rural area. So you require a system that can be increased
> dynamically and yet retain the same functionality. Classical GSM scores
> higher here since cells can be added with ease to one BTS but island
> systems like Open BTS may require replacing the whole system including
> mobile terminals in order to just double capacity.
> (c)    *Security*: Generally classical GSM are designed to fit in the
> national security and emergency preparedness plan as follows: calls and SMS
> are logged; cells can be remotely enabled or disabled; all conversations in
> GSM systems are encrypted; call tracing is inbuilt, community specific
> communication is possible through cell-broadcasting covering any number of
> cells – just to name a few. Island systems like Open BTS will require
> manual intervention by operators to, for instance, log calls. The small
> size of the Open BTS systems accompanied by their ease of deployment also
> means that criminal groups and enemy forces can easily set up communication
> systems. It is partly because of this that the law requires each
> communication system entering the county to be type-approved and
> frequencies to be assigned to operators and reviewed on annual basis.
>
> Lastly, the issue of universal access is a problem in many countries
> including developed countries like USA. The usual solution is to set up a
> universal service fund. The Kenya Information and Communications Act of
>  2008 set up this fund as follows:
> *84J. **(1)* There is hereby established a fund to be known as the
> Universal Service Fund which shall be managed and administered by the
> Commission. *(2)* The object and the purpose of the Fund shall be to
> support widespread access to, support capacity building and promote
> innovation in information and communications technology services. *(3) *There
> shall be a universal service levy (in this Part referred to as the “levy”)
> that shall be charged by the Commission on the licensees under this Act for
> purposes of the Universal Service Fund.
>
> The objectives of the fund have further been clarified in a CCK framework
> as:
>
> *a)* Promote communications infrastructure and services rollout in rural,
> remote and under-served areas; *b)* Ensure availability of communication
> services to Persons with Disabilities, women and other vulnerable groups;
> *c)* Support the development of capacity building in ICTs and
> technological innovation; *d)* Support expansion of communication
> services to schools, health facilities and other organizations serving
> public needs; and *e) *Facilitate development of and access to a wide
> range of local and relevant content.
> The fund has been operationalized this year.
> Listers may wish to comment on *why we should go ahead to give free
> community Open BTS telecommunication frequencies after operationalizing the
> USF fund.*
> Prof. James Kulubi
>
>
>   On Monday, 2 December 2013, 10:45, Anthony Kiarie <kiarietony at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>   Good morning
> The concept of Openbts has been under development and discussion for some
> time;
> http://openbts.org/
>
> http://rangenetworks.com/solutions/technology
> One would still need transmission backhaul though
> [image: Technology diagram]
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 8:55 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>wrote:
>
> Hi Listers,
>
> I recently met a group of Russian developers who have a GSM base station
> that sells at a tenth of the mainstream ones as it is based on open source
> technology.
>
> The product could have a massive impact on many of Kenya's far-flung
> communities as it would allow them to set up community based communication
> networks especially where the ARPU is too low for the commercial operators
> to venture.
>
> For this to work we need to provide a license free GSM frequency such as
> the 2.5 ghz that is used for data networks, do you know if there is such a
> provision in the CCK regulations?
>
> Regards
>
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya
>
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kiarietony%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jkulubi%40yahoo.co.uk
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/robertyawe%40yahoo.co.uk
>
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> kictanet mailing list
> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
>
> Unsubscribe or change your options at
> https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/stephen.song%40gmail.com
>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>

-- 
Steve Song
+1 902 529 0046
http://manypossibilities.net
http://villagetelco.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20131205/a151ea1f/attachment.htm>