Presentation by Nisarat Tansakul at APRICOT 2017 on Tuesday, 28 February 2017.

1. TakNet: Thai CWMN Experience
by
Internet Education and Research Lab (intERLab)
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
Thailand
Jan 2017
http://interlab.ait.ac.th/cwmn/

2. Broadband in Thailand
2

3. Plan
• Technical Background
• Towards TakNet
• TakNet as CWMN
• Sustainability and Scalability

4. Technical background:
from post-disaster MANET to CWMN
http://dumbo-technology.interlab.ait.asia

5. The Tsunami of 2004
5
Source: NOAA video, retrieved from Wikipedia

6. DUMBONET Objectives
• DUMBONET is an emergency network
which aims to
– provide a collection of post-disaster emergency
communication tools
• which can be quickly and reasonably
deployed for rescuer activities.
– enable multimedia communications
• Photos, videos, texts, audios
6

7. DUMBONET Principle #1
• Use of commodity devices as user terminals
In the past:
Notebooks
Current :
Netbooks &
Mobile phones
Newest additions:
Tablets &
Embedded systems
7

8. DUMBONET Principle #2
• Infrastructureless or relying less on
infrastructure
8

9. DUMBONET Principle #3
• Integration of heterogeneous communication
technology
9

10. DUMBONET Principle #4
• Scenario-specific Applications
– Fault-tolerance (e.g. self-configuring, self-healing)
– Peer-to-peer
10

11. DUMBONET Principle #5
• To deliver practical systems that work in the
real world
– Not just a theoretical model or simulation
11

12. Operated
Operated
Peer-to-Peer
Self-Configuring & Self-Healing
12

13. Multimedia Communications for Disaster
Emergency Responses
• Interactive Video, Voice, and Instant Messaging
– very important for situational awareness
• Peer-to-Peer Paradigm ( no centralized server ** )
13

14. Facial Recognition System (optional)
14
Face Recognition : to search and identify people

15. Proof of Concept in 2006?
Digital Ubiquitous Mobile Broadband OLSR Network
15

16. Simulated Disaster
Area 2
IP Star
Uplink
Simulated
Head Command
Center (AIT)
Terrestrial
Internet
Simulated Disaster
Area 1
IP Star
Satellite
IP Star
Gateway Field
Satellite
Access
MANET
OLSR
PDA
Field
Satellite
Access
MANET
OLSR
PDA
sensor
DUMBONET I
(December 2006)
16

17. 17

18. In 2008, After Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar
18
IntERLab’s staff members
trained Myanmar engineers
and NGOs for the deployment
of DUMBONET in Myanmar

19. Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar
(May 2008)
19

20. 20
DUMBONET was deployed to
help the Myanmar post-
disaster mitigation operation.

21. THNG Camp (March 2010)
21
Khao-Yai (~Grand Mountains) National Park, Thailand
- Trail in a dense tropical rainforest (~ 3 KM)
- Highly ‘challenged’ environment:
- Trees and terrain disrupt our WiFi, CB, and GSM signals
- Even GPS signal oftentimes cannot get through dense tree leaves

22. How to enable multimedia emergency
communication in the highly challenged environments?
22

23. DTN : Disruption Tolerance Networking
• Also known as Delay Tolerance Networking
• DTN Research Group
– http://www.dtnrg.org/
23

24. Example use : DTN file transfer in a disruptive MANET
24
1. Take a picture or
a video with your
ordinary mobile
phone
2. Send via
Bluetooth to one
of EEE PCs
Bluetooth
WiFi MANET + DTS-OLSR
3. The netbook
receives the file,
makes it a DTN
bundle, and
forwards the DTN
bundle in a
disruptive MANET
4. The DTN file bundle arrives
at its destination EEE PC (e.g.
a command headquarter, or
other members of the rescue
team)

25. DUMBO Mobile Routers
with OLSR and DTN
25
Ad hoc link
OLSR
WiFi
16 GB external
storage

26. Special Thanks to
• The French ICT-ASIA program
• The French Regional Cooperation
• The Ministry of ICT, Thailand
• NECTEC/NSTDA, Thailand
• The T.H.NIC Foundation, Thailand
• INRIA, France
• UPMC/LIP6, France
• WIDE Project, Japan
• I2R, Singapore
• LOR/Telecom SudParis, France
• Asia Broadband (Japan)
• IIJ (Japan)
• Internet Thailand PLC
• Shin Satellite (IPStar), Thailand
• and others who have helped in many ways to realize DUMBONET
26

27. Nepal Earthquake (2015)
27
http://www.nepalquakesupport.org/eq/Home/BlogDetail/11

28. 2012 after the 2011 BIG flood
Towards TakNet
28

29. Our approach
• THNG Camps supported by THNIC
Foundation and camp sponsors.
• R&D by intERLab/AIT
• RUN experiments!!!
29

30. Experiment #1 (2013)
Thai Samakhee, Mae Sot
30

31. Services provided to WMN users
• Web services, through a
built-in web server in each
WMN router.
• Download large ebooks
or watch videos directly
on user’s devices (e.g. a
tablet).
•Voice over IP (VoIP)
• Adaptive micro-caching
services (being planned)

32. Experiment #2 (2014)
Huay Kom Arkha, Chiang Rai
32

33. Experiment #3 (2015)
Mae Taan, Ta Song Yang
33

34. TakNet as CWMN
34

35. TakNet = DUMBO as CWMN
14 access routers (TPlink MR 3040)
1 core router (Unifi UAP)
OpenWrt, Attitude Adjustment 12.04
Ad hoc link
OLSR
WiFi
16 GB external
storage
35

36. TakNet
Thai Samakhee
a small rural village in northern Thailand
2 ADSL links provided by ISP
50 households with 300 populations
Before 2013
28$/month for a subscription
TakNet CWMN
Internet cost is shard among villagers
5$/month for a subscription
Attract villagers to use the Internet
~200 active users (as of 2015)
less than 10 villagers use
Internet at home 36

37. Social Interview
40%
60%VS
91%
Device used
Popular content
Teens
Adults
Kids
18 34
52
8
30
14
Kids Teens Adults
8-16 16-21 over 22
140$ - 560$
interviewees
User information
Monthly
wages
37

38. Sustainability and Scalability
38

39. Government’s Role
• Many broadband policies and many ICT
master plans since 2002
• Mobile 3G and 4G
• USO by the regulator
• Telecenters
• …. latest policy is to connect ALL villages
with fibre optics
39

40. Who remain unconnected in 2016?
• No service.
• Too remote and unattractive (investment
vs income)
• The last miles/meters does matter
• Awareness/Ignorance
• Affordability
40

41. Rural Access
1.No electricity
2.Zero service
3.Unaffordable
41

42. Internet Access Key Players
• Academic R&E networks
• Commercial service providers: telcos, ISP’s
• Governments and NGOs
42

43. Model 1
• Telecenters — Governments and NGOs
– How to sustain?
– Who will be responsible after projects end?
– Ownership?
43

44. Model 2
• Commercial ISP’s
• Pushed by governments’ BB policies
• Scarcity and most of the time unaffordable
44

45. CWMN as a New player…
• Commercial service providers: telcos, ISP’s
• Governments
• Academic R&E Nets
• Villagers/Communities with some tech
support
45

46. Community Network: slow but
sustainable
• TakNet: A Community Wireless Mesh Network
(CWMN) by the Internet Education and Research Lab
@ AIT and the THNIC Foundation
• Technology: Mobile Ad Hoc Network adapted from
DUMBONET
• Since 2013
46

47. Net2Home Project
• Seeking funding to expand…
• Govt’s Digital Economy Policy (2014)
47

48. CWMNs
Deployed
Future
CWMNs
Envisioned
•48

49. Outcomes and Key Performance
Indicators (1)
1st Outcome
Net2Home networks
Deploy Net2Home in 50
communities
Villagers will be able to
use Net2Home
Deliver 50 Net2Home
networks within 6 months
Deployment cost is less than
100,000 THB (~2500 GBP)
Support Digital Economy in
local communities
Outcome Qualitative Indicator Quality Indicator Time Indicator Cost Indicator
49

50. 2nd Outcome
Trained Local Technicians
After the project, we
will have at least 50
trained local
technicians
The local technicians
will be able to design
and deploy Net2Home
in their communities
Technical trainings
will be finished within
6 months
The villagers will be able
to maintain their
Net2Home network
Select 5 local
technicians who have
the capabilities to
expand Net2Home
Outcomes and Key Performance
Indicators (2)
Outcome Qualitative Indicator Quality Indicator Time Indicator Cost Indicator
50

51. 3rd Outcome
Open source platform
Net2Home with
real time monitoring
system
Open source platform
for Net2Home (i.e., GIT
Hub)
Enlargement of
Net2Home networks
Open source platform and
monitoring system will be
ready by 30 September 2014
The deployability
cost will be less than
2550 GBP
Creating software
ecosystem and digital
economy in
Net2Home
Technical Support
through chat room and
call center
Outcomes and Key Performance
Indicators (3)
Monitoring System
Outcome Qualitative Indicator Quality Indicator Time Indicator Cost Indicator
51

52. • Encourage ISPs to provide
Internet connectivity in rural
areas
• Open Source platform for
Net2Home
Local community can maintain
and support Net2Home
The deployment for each
community will be gradually
reduced (< 2500 GBP)
Driving force for Digital
Economy in local
communities
Transfer technology and
knowledge to communities
Provide Internet connectivity to
rural areas with the cost
effective solution
Conclusion and Expected Outcomes
Opportunity
Catalyst for change
Sustainability
Eco-system
Cost effective solution
Digital economy
Net2Home
52

53. Three attempts for funding failed!
53

54. 54

55. Net2Home Business Model 2016
Inter
TakNet: A Community Wireless Mesh
Network (CWMN) by
App and Business
Development:
THNG supported by
THNICF + CSR’s
SoE: Net2Home
as a service
provider
Academic Institutions:
R&D
55

56. 1.App and Business
Development:
56

57. THNG Camp 2016
• Theme changed: development of
application and business model to
promote digital economy in a
community
• Site: Mae Ka Sa, Mae sot District, Tak
Province
• Date: 17 - 22 December 2016
• Attendees: 44 university students, from
IT, social science and community
focused students.
57

58. THNG Camp 2016
• Result: A prototype platform for community’s
resource sharing which including agricultural
products, vehicle, homestay, etc.
• Business strategy guideline for local
management.
58

59. THNG Camp 2016
Shared products stat Homestay service stat
Prototype Screenshots
Dashboard
59

60. 2. R&D
60

61. (1) EDU Content Delivery Network
• Pushing content to the thumb drives on each MR
• Comparing NDN and CDN Performance for Content
Distribution Service in Community Wireless Mesh Network
Full Text:
PDF Get this Article
Authors:
Adisorn Lertsinsrubtavee
Internet Education and Research Laboratory, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Preechai Mekbungwan
Internet Education and Research Laboratory, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Nunthaphat Weshsuwannarugs
Internet Education and Research Laboratory, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Published in:
· Proceeding
AINTEC '14 Proceedings of the AINTEC 2014 on Asian Internet Engineering Conference
Pages 43
Chiang Mai, Thailand — November 26 - 28, 2014
ACM New York, NY, USA ©2014
table of contents ISBN: 978-1-4503-3251-4 doi>10.1145/2684793.2684800
61

62. Thai Samakee School
62

63. 4 - 10 Mbps
Gateway
The Internet
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
This is the
bottleneck
The Problem of Content
Distribution in Rural Schools and
Communities

64. Our Proposed Solution:
EDU Content Distribution via Low-cost WMN routers
• Low-cost and locally available hardware
running customizable embedded Linux.
• 802.11n 2.4GHz Wi-Fi services with
maximum link speed of 150Mbps.
• Self-configuring, self-healing OLSR mesh
networking.
• USB flash storage: 16GB or 32GB per
router for content caching (video or ebook
files).
• Low power consumption (max 5W). Grid
electricity cost is < US$ 0.70 per router per
month.
• Optionally solar-powered (at an additional
cost).
• Internal battery can be optionally installed
to operate without grid/solar electricity for
4+ hours.
• Easy to use and maintain. Users can just
switch the routers off-and-on to resolve
most problems.
• Robust -- high temperature tolerance
(when battery is removed), no moving parts.

65. 4 - 10 Mbps
Gateway
The Internet
Original EDU contents can be retrieved from public
Internet during off-peak hours.
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
Late night

66. 4 - 10 Mbps
Gateway
The Internet
Micro-caching can then be activated
at each WMN router
EDU
contents
12am - 6am
EDU
contents EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
10 - 20+ Mbps

67. 4 - 10 Mbps
Gateway
The Internet
Then the routers can perform day-time
content delivery services to nearby client devices.
8am - 5pm
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
EDU
contents
20 - 40+ Mbps
20 - 40+ Mbps
20 - 40+ Mbps
20 - 40+ Mbps

68. (2) CWMN Management System
• User profile, Logging and Authentication System
• by using Raspberry PI as a server and Open source software eg.
FreeRadius+daloRadius+CaptivePortal
• Inventory system: To manage inventory and devices
• customer and billing system: managing customer data, invoice,
receipt and accounting
• Helpdesk system
68

69. (2) CWMN Management System
• Network Monitoring System
• Infrastructure monitoring
• Network traffic monitoring
• Mesh network monitoring
69

70. (3) Social Media: towards seamless Apps
(off/on Internet)
• Local messenger application – “DUMBO chat”
– Provide a local group chat in CWMN
– Provide communication with LINE messenger's group chat
LINE server Inter-chat web
server
LINE API
Gateway
Webhook call
70

71. 3. SoE:
71

72. Net2Home (SoE) 1
Mae Taan Municipality
72

73. Summary
• To scale, we need
ApplicationsMotivation Market
73

74. Team Members
• Apinun Tunpan (R&D Leader)
• Adisorn (Post-doc)
• Nisarat (Community Relation Manager)
• Preechai (Research Assistant)
• Nunthapat (Research Assistant)
• Parkpoom (SoE)
• THNG Camps
74

75. • THNICF (.th)
• ISIF Asia
• Donors (in kind)
• NSRC
• Cisco
• N4D, U of Cambridge
• Sponsors of THNG Camps
• Thank You List
75

76. Last but not least,
• ISOC’s Jon Postel Service Award
2016 has been set as seed funding
for the Net2Home SoE
76

77. THANK YOU
ขอบคุณค่ะ
77