WiFi Wireless Network Overview

1
PRESENTATION
Wi-Fi / Wireless Network Overview
July 28, 2005
2
WHO ARE WE?
Thai-Fi is a 1.5 year old wired wireless
networking company
MISSION
To provide affordable high speed wireless
networks using Wi-Fi technology for buildings,
businesses and homes with best in class support
3
Sample Projects

Substantial SME Client List Lots of Homes/Apts
4
THE ALPAHBET SOUP OF WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
RF
WPA
DSL
MIMO
Wi-Fi
IEEE
WPA2
G.SHDSL
802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n
WLAN
AES
VOIP
AP
802.11i
Skype
VPN
SSID
POTS/PSTN
WEP
ADSL
PDA
Soft Phone
What is all this stuff and what can it do to
help me at work and at home?
5
WHAT IS WI-FI
WIRELESS FIDELITY
Global Standard Technically called 802.11
Commonly known as Wi-Fi. Provides wireless
connectivity to internet, other computers
devices using radio frequency (RF) technology.
Who Is In Charge? Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers, or IEEEinternational non
profit association that approves Wi-Fi standards
Use Anywhere at home, work or Wi-Fi hotspots
around the corner or around the world.
Interoperability your vendors Wi-Fi equipment
will work with mine-look for Wi-Fi Alliance logo
95 Million Wi-Fi equipped laptops and other
devices will be in circulation by end of 2005.
68,644 hotspots worldwide (source JI Wire.com)
6
THE WI-Fi FLAVORS
Wi-Fi has evolved over time (and continues to do
so) and the IEEE global standards body has 3
approved types of Wi-Fi

• 5GHz frequency not legal in Thailand because it
  requires a license.

• NOT used in hotspots worldwide used mainly in
  large corporate environments.

802.11b OLDER STANDARD

• 11 Mbps max capacity.

• Uses the 2.4 GHz unlicensed frequency permitted
  in Thailand and worldwide.

802.11g LASTEST/FASTEST-RECOMMEND THIS

• 54 Mbps capacity same 2.4 GHz frequency for
  global access

• Backward compatible with 802.11b

• Improved coverage/interference capabilities

But
7
FASTER/BETTER
Standard On the Way
802.11n

• Newest standard under developmentnot yet approved

• Minimum 100 Mbps bandwidth capacity (new
  technology called Multiple In Multiple Out or
  MIMO uses 3-4 antennas instead of current 1 or
  2 antennas)

• Significantly larger area of coverage

• Backward compatible with 802.11b and g (same
  2.4GHz frequency used worldwide)

• Pre N APs already on the market-but require
  matching PC Card to get full benefits

8
WHAT DOES WI-FI DO?
Wireless Network provides connectivity to
internet, printers, servers and other devices
without wires (called Wireless Local Area
Networks or WLAN).
WHAT ELSE CAN IT DO?

• Internet telephony uses a technology called
  Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to make
  phone calls over the internet

• Video Surveillance IP based wireless cameras
  for video surveillance. Access cameras on site
  or anywhere in the world remotely via the internet

• Streaming audio/video Advertising IP TV Video
  on demand (w/set top TV boxes)

• Industrial/Mfg applications such as Radio
  Frequency Identification (RFID) new/smarter
  barcodes

9
1
Arrangement for Broadband Internet is made
Perform Radio Frequency (RF) Site Survey
Access Points (APs) are strategically
installed which broadcast radio signals covering
the entire space.
Wi-Fi enabled computers and devices can be used
anywhere by sending and receiving transmissions
from the APs.
10
2
An ISP provides high speed internet service for
building.
Thai-Fi performs a site survey, procures, and
installs all necessary equipment to spread the
signal
Access Points (APs) are mounted throughout the
building based on an RF survey.
APs transmit and receive wi-fi signals allowing
for connections to the internet anywhere in the
building.
11
New laptops have wi-fi built in
- By 2005 90 of all laptops will have wi-fi
built in
Wi-Fi enabling an existing computer is easy and
inexpensive
- Client devices start at around 1000 Baht (25)
and are sold widely throughout Thailand
Internal card for desktop
Plug into USB slot
SD or Compact Flash Cards for Personal Digital
Assistants (PDAs)
PC card for laptop
12
WI-FI SECURITY
IS IT SAFE?
YES, if you activate the built in security.

• HOW SAFE?

• Current security standards built into Wi-Fi
  implement a Governmental / Enterprise level of
  encryption for security. Earlier encryption
  standard was less robust.

• Several measures to take for additional layers of
  security

13
WI-Fi SECURITY
1st LINE OF DEFENSE
SSID
Service Set Identifier. Think of this as the
NAME of your APs network

• Every AP comes from the factory with a name.
  Most use either the brand name of the
  manufacturer or default

• Change your SSID

• And then, consider disabling the broadcast of
  that name so that others cant see it

Because you must know the SSID or name of the
AP to sign on to that WLAN network and use it
WHY?
14
Examples of SSIDs
15
WI-FI SECURITY
ENCRYPTION The 2nd Line of Defense
WEP The First Security Standard
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) First
encryption standard built into Wi-Fi. All Wi-Fi
products still have this built in.

• Enter a 10 digit alpha-numeric code into AP and
  computer

• Problem Method of encryption was not robust.

• It also used the same key every time

Someone using special code cracking software,
sitting within the range of coverage, could
de-cypher your encrypted messages IF he stayed
outside your door long enough while you are
online, for the code cracking software to work
Result
16
WI-FI SECURITY
ENCRYPTION The 2nd Line of Defense
WPA The 2nd Security Standard
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)Second
generation encryption standard built into Wi-Fi.
All newer Wi-Fi products have this built in.

• Computers must be WPA enabled also
• Windows XP Service Pack 2 has WPA built in

• 2 settings Personal and Enterprise

-Personal Mode Enter an alpha-numeric key into
AP and each computer
-Enterprise Mode requires extra equipment
Very Robust Encryption Methodology
17
WI-FI SECURITY
ENCRYPTION The 2nd Line of Defense
WPA 2 The 3rd Security Standard
Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA 2)IEEE
standard known as 802.11i. Latest generation
encryption standard built into Wi-Fi. Uses a
very advanced encryption standard called AES

• Computers must be WPA 2 enabled also
• Windows XP Service Pack 2 has WPA2 built in

• 2 settings Personal and Enterprise

-Personal Mode Enter a alpha-numeric key into AP
and each computer
-Enterprise Mode requires extra equipment
Ultra Robust Encryption Methodology
18
WI-FI SECURITY
VPN The 3rd Line of Defense
Virtual Private Networks VPNs
Separate hardware software used in corporate
environments to add additional layer of
encryption allowing mobile workers a secure
communication path to home office.
Computers must have client VPN software
matching that at headquarters
Helpful in public Wi-Fi hotspots like cafes,
hotels and airports
3rd Party web based solutions for individuals and
SMEs such as www.hotspotvpn.com
19
A WORD ABOUT THE INTERNET
Question Is All Internet Equal?
Answer NO! You get what you pay for
4 Kinds of Internet Connections
Consumer Class ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital
Subscriber Line)

• Upload speeds are half that of downloads (or less)

• Many more users per line causing slowdown at peak
  periods

Business Class DSL

• Equal up and download speeds

• Far less users per line (1-2 other users only)
  More reliable

G.SHDSL

• New technology offers almost lease line quality
  at lower price

Leased Lines

• No one shares line/fastest performance. Most
  expensive

20
INTERNET TELEPHONY VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL
(VOIP)
VOIP TO VOIP CALLS

• Use your laptop or Personal Digital Assistant
  (PDA) as a Soft Phone to call another person
  who is using their laptop or PDA.

• Currently legal in Thailand w/out a license

• Skype (www.skype.com) or Yahoo Chat are examples
  of freeware to allow for free telephone calls
  to others online

• Limitation of this type of VOIP Service
  recipient must be online and have downloaded the
  software.

21
Value Added Services INTERNET TELEPHONY VOICE
OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VOIP)
VOIP TO Regular Landline or Cell Phone

• Use your laptop or Personal Digital Assistant
  (PDA) as a Soft Phone to call another person on
  a regular landline telephone or cellphone (Plain
  Old Telephone Service POTS or Public Switch
  Telephone Network PSTN

• Sale of this service w/out a license is currently
  prohibited. CAT2Call from CAT is currently
  only licensed provider

• Outbound Service Can make calls from your
  computer to a regular phone number. Example
  Skype Out service. Long distance calls are
  about half the cost of a land line telephone
  service.

• Inbound Service You pay for a phone number in
  another country which your family/friends/associat
  es call. To them, its a local call. You
  receive call on your laptop. Example Skype In

22
OTHER VALUE ADDED SERVICES
Video Surveillance/Video Conferencing

• Wired or Wireless IP Cameras

• View on site

• View Offsite via the Internet from anywhere in
  the world

IP TV and Video on Demand (Triple Play of
voice/video/data)

• True and Shin have both announced service

• Shins service, for 650 baht/month, has set top
  TV box 2Mbps (1Mbps international bandwidth and
  1 Mbps local)

• Contrast w/ Verizons service in USA fiber to
  home w/ 15Mbps for 49/month

23
TOMMOROWS PROMISE
WI-MAX
Technical Name from IEEE 802.16
Metro Area Wide Hotzone

• Cities implementing
• Tokyo (December 2005)
• South Korea

Intel will build Wi-Max chips into laptops
starting Q4 2006
Very fast, inexpensive bandwidth
Connect anywhere in the city
Coverage in moving vehicles, indoors and out,
similar to cell phone coverage
24
THE ALPAHBET SOUP OF WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
RF
WPA
DSL
MIMO
Wi-Fi
IEEE
WPA2
G.SHDSL
802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11n
WLAN
AES
VOIP
AP
802.11i
Skype
VPN
SSID
POTS/PSTN
WEP
ADSL
PDA
Soft Phone
And thats what all that stuff is and what can
it do to help your at work and at home
25
Wired and Wireless Networks For Buildings,
Businesses and Homes.
Thai-Fi
57-57/1 4th Floor Suite 403 Wireless Road
Pathumwan, Lumpini Bangkok 10330 Thailand tel
(66)(2) 655-3539 fax [phone] www.thai-fi
.com info_at_thai-fi.com
Stay current with all this technology on the
News section of our website at www.thai-fi.com