Huub Schuurmans

Stichting Wireless Leiden

huub@wirelessleiden.nl

Jasper Koolhaas

Rudi van Drunen

Ger Koper

Wireless Leiden

community network

and

'living laboratory'

Trends

Fixed ==> wireless

WiFi

Open Source Software

Smaller, cheaper, faster

Interoperability (open standards)

802.11b/WiFi

WiFi in perspective

Source: Public Wireless LAN Access: A Threat to
Mobile Operators, Analysys Research, 2001

50

500

1000

10 000

50 000

100 000

Transmission rate (kbit/s)

HomeRF

Bluetooth

Fixed LAN

Blackberry (US)

HomeRF

Bluetooth

802.11a and HiperLAN2

UMTS

GPRS

GSM

Stationary

Walking

speed

Driving

speed

802.11g

Glas

Fast (11 – 54 Mbps)

Free, no license

Inexpensive

Available, now & everywhere

Easy to use, set up, do-it-yourself

Open standard (widely used, interoperable)

Users like it, it's fun

New applications, CE devices, VoIP

WiFi's success formula

Free Software (1984)

Free to use

Free to copy, to distribute

Free to change

Linux (1991)

operating system

Open Source (1998)

'marketing'

widely accepted

Linus Torvalds

Eric Raymond

Why Open Source ?

No 'vendor lock in'

Costs

Interoperability

Flexibility

Security

Quality

Why Open Standards ?

Interoperability

Neutral infrastructure, level playing field

Free to implement

Access to documentation

more about

Open Standards

and

Open Source Software:

http://www.ososs.nl

Wireless Leiden

our own, free, fast, inexpensive

wireless computer network

for Leyden and surroundings

And also ...

Develop and share knowledge

Stimulate and facilitate commercial

services and spin-off companies

Started with 10, now 30 professional 'hobbyists'

Open standards / open software

Inexpensive hardware (802.11b)

Free WiFi frequencies

Coöperative, planned approach

Why? Curiosity, new, fun

Who? Anybody interested

No subsidies, solve real problems for real people

Primary focus on fixed-wireless, not on mobile use.

Wireless Leiden Foundation (2002)

Wireless Leiden:

innovative, outside WiFi-network

no hotspots, but a routed, independent network

Example

(small business)

Solution:

‘win - win’

Secure ‘vpn’ connection using Wireless Leiden

Internet connection

via gateways ('proxy')

For >1000 users a 'basic-adsl' – capacity

The City Network

Realtime on our website

Over 50 network nodes

City of Leiden fairly well covered

Connected to region: Jacobswoude, Hazerswoude, Katwijk, Alphen a/d Rijn, Oegstgeest, Leiderdorp

Regional network

Katwijk a/Z

Kaag

Jacobswoude

Benthuizen

Node IMI was sponsored by IMI, Instituut voor Maatschappelijke Innovatie, Leiden

Node Gandalf Benthuizen

Node Meca Katwijk a/Zee

Business Case:

a coöperative approach

Foundation: the infrastructure; not for profit

Develop and share knowledge: open technology

Social network: individuals, companies and organisations

Financing per node (ca. 1200 euro), immediately written off

No regural payments so no regural income required, free to use for anyone

Driven by users

Main applications: VPN's, mobile or fixed broadband Internet, file sharing

Status after 2 years

4000+ users (750 daily Internet users)

commercial spin offs (start up companies)

'living laboratory' for technological and social innovation

International interest

Montreal

San Francisco

Kinshasa, Buffalo City (?)

Iraq (?)

Paramaribo

Philippines (?)

Ankara

Challenges

Manage a large organisation of volunteers

Manage relationship volunteers – start ups

Regional expansion

Need for some working capital

Organise network maintenance

Safety of volunteer workers

Manage user expectations

Innovate and operate the network

What's in it for you?

Open Standards

Open Source Software

New business cases based on open technology

Cooperate with unconventional partners in unconventional business models

Opportunity for strengthening community relations and employee motivation

2003-11-02T12:40:49