Title: Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
1Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- Prepared by
- Aadit Shrestha
- Kathmandu Engineering College
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- aadit_at_wlink.com.np
2Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- Presentation Outline
- History of Wireless Network Internet in the
Himalayan Region - Present Status of the Network
- Future of the Network
- Conclusion
3Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
4Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- In 1997, Himanchal Higher Secondary School in the
remote Myagdi received four used computers as
presents from the students of a school in
Australia - Two 386 PCs, one 486 PC, and one laptop (486 PC)
- Mahabir Pun, one of the teachers had the vision
of trying to connect to the Internet - Some people mentioned Wi-Fi 802.11b Technology
- That is how it all started.
5Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- A PC built from donated parts inside a wooden box
6Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- Major hurdle was connecting to the Internet, only
available in Pokhara, a city aprrox. 50 Km away. - A big mountain was in the way.
- Only solution was to place a repeater in the
mountain - RELAY TREE ?
7Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
8Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
9Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- Currently 5 Villages are connected to the
wireless network - All villages are using email and Internet
services - This is vital infrastructure in a place where
there are no means of transportation and
communication except walking - Villagers who cannot type also use NetMeeting to
communicate with family in other villages - Yak farmers who travel to remote areas and are
out of home for long time are able to communicate
with family
10Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
11Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- An antenna mounted at Khopra yak farm in the
Annapurna mountains
12Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- Services Being Provided Currently
- Basic Communication through email
- Internet Access
- Voice Communication using VoIP phones
- Tele-medicine services by volunteer doctors in
Pokhara
13Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
14Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- Good News for the Future!!!
- Received 20,000 Grant from the World Bank
through Competition - This means the network can now be expanded to 14
villages and 3 districts
15Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
16Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
17Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- What new services will we have?
- E-HealthDoctors in the city can contact patients
in villages - E-CommerceProducts from one village can be sold
in other villages. Hopefully local handicrafts
can be sold internationally. - Tele-teachingVillage schools lack teachers.
Teachers in one school can teach students in
other schools using video conferencing.
18Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- What else can be done?
- Implement Ipv6 for multicasting of Tele-teaching
services? - That would be great!
19Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
20Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- Unique Properties of this Network
- WiFi 802.11b technology originally designed to be
used inside buildings and rooms is being used
over very long distances to connect remote
villages in the mountains - Highly beneficial to Nepal
- Wireless Communication best-suited for Nepals
mountainous terrain - Can be replicated at low cost all throughout Nepal
21Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas
- Issue of sustainability
- The recurring cost is that of Internet
Connection, which needs to be paid monthly - This can be obtained by opening Cyber Cafés in 3
tourist villages in the famed Annapurna Trekking
Circuit
22Wireless Networks and Internet in the Himalayas