Broadband Access Technologies
Access
networks are very important for network providers because of their high costs
and the possibility of the realization of a direct access to the end
users/subscribers. Lately, about 50% of all investments in the
telecommunications infrastructure are needed for the realization of
telecommunications access networks. However, an access network connects a
limited number of individual subscribers, as opposed to a transport communication
network (Figure 6). Therefore, economic efficiency of the access networks is lower
than in wide area networks (WAN). Realization of the access networks for
individual subscribers is also economically less efficient. On the other hand,
a direct access to the subscribers increases the opportunities for network providers
to offer a higher number of various services. This attracts the subscribers to become
contract-bound customers of a particular network provider, which increases the usage
of its transport network. Therefore, the access to the individual subscribers
seems to be important as well. (Hrasnica et al, 2004).
After the
deregulation of the telecommunications market in a large number of countries, the
access networks are still the property of former monopolistic companies
(incumbent network providers). New network providers build up their transport
networks (WAN), but they still have to use the access infrastructure owned by
an incumbent provider. Because of this, new network providers try to find a
solution to offer their own access network to the subscribers. On the other
hand, a rapid development of new telecommunications services increases the
demand for more transmission capacity in the transport networks as well as in
the access area. Therefore, there is a permanent need for an extension of the access
infrastructure. There are two possibilities for the expansion of the access
networks:
Wireless
and WiMax Technology
Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) is a technology for wireless
broadband and the core techniques for the fourth-generation (4G) wireless mobile
communications. WiMAX is a new broadband wireless access technology that
provides very high data throughput over long distance in a point-to-multipoint
environment. There are two main classes of WiMAX system called fixedWiMAX and
mobile WiMAX (Ramle et al, 2010). Fixed WiMAX can be utilized to effectively
provide broadband penetration to rural areas. The idea is to use lower
frequencies (ex. 450MHz) which have favorable propagation conditions for
covering large distances (Sapumohotti et al, 2011). WiMAX (IEEE802.16) provides
service to many devices like notebook personal computer; handset, smart phone
and some consumers‟ electronics such as gaming devices, cameras, camcorder, and
music player. It is the first of all IP mobile internet solution enabling
efficient and scalable networks for data, video and voice. It is one of the
wireless metropolitan area networking that operates at scalable bandwidth
(Shu’aibu, & Yusof, 2010).
Wireless
broadband
Wireless broadband
services transmit data and information at high speeds using wireless links.
Such data and information can include a wide range of content and applications
that are accessed over the Internet, including web sites, e-mail, instant
messaging, music, games, or data stored on a corporate server. Wireless
broadband Internet access services can be provided using mobile, fixed, or
portable technologies. These technologies can transmit data over short, medium,
or long ranges, and can use licensed spectrum and/or unlicensed devices. Some
of the wireless broadband Internet access technologies in use today include
CDMA 1x EV-DO (EV-DO), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) with High Speed Downlink Packet
Access (HSDPA), and Wi-Fi (Federal Communications Commission, 2008).
Telecentres
Malaysian
government exposed the bridge digital divide program via telecenter beginning
2000 as an effort to boost the use and access of ICT among rural communities
and marginalized groups in Malaysia (Jusoff, Hassan, & Razak, 2010). Telecentres
purposes introduce and encourage the usage of ICT; and to create community
communication equipped with a range of ICT services to facilitate Internet access,
e-commerce, and e-learning (Ibrahim, & Ainin, 2009). According to Clark and
Gomez (2011), Public access to computers and the Internet at libraries, telecentres
and cybercafé can play an important role in social and economic development if
it effectively helps to meet the needs of underserved populations where it is
not sometime free of charge. Clark and Gomez have studied and analyzed role of
user fees and other critical barriers in the use of computers in public access
venues in 25 developing countries around the world which Malaysia was one of
them, Study’s findings indicate that user fees do not stopped use of public
access venues such as telecentres, as they are not seen as unaffordable, that
means users fees and users have the desire of use ICT and get access to the
internet. But at the same time, the implications of these findings are of
critical importance to telecentres, and to public libraries.
These two
types of public access venues have a social mission that is not necessarily
shared with cybercafés, but cybercafés tend to be more successful in both
meeting local needs of users. Users tend to perceive cybercafés as offering good
customer service and support, even though they charge user fees. Users also
tend to perceive libraries as outdated and irrelevant to their local needs. Telecentres
and public libraries face important sustainability challenges, with decreasing
public or donor funds for public access ICT initiatives. As consequence of all
that sustainable challenges, the venues and ICT services will remain unused.
Wi-Fi
Network and Mobile Broadband
Wi-Fi
networks can transfer data at speeds of up to 11 Mbps for 802.11b and up to 54
Mbps for 802.11a and 802.11g. They can be designed for private access within a
home or business, or can be used for public Internet access at "hot
spots" such as restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, airports, convention
centers, and city parks. Mobile broadband technologies enable subscribers to
access the Internet while traveling at high speeds via a mobile handset, a
smartphone, or a wireless modem card connected to a laptop computer or PDA.
Mobile broadband technologies used by carriers in the United States, such as
EV-DO and WCDMA/HSPDA, are capable of transmitting data at speeds ranging in
excess of 400 kbps (Federal Communications Commission, 2008).
Broadband
over PowerLine (BPL) Technology
BPL is a
technology that utilizes electrical power lines for high speed transmission of
data, video, voice, etc. it works by transmitting high frequently signals
through the same power cable used for carrying electricity to households. BPL
uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing modulation (OFDM). OFDM is enabling
providers to offer wireless broadband services that are often considered
"portable" in nature. Power lines basically are provided in each
house over the entire world. see figure (4) below, that main pillar could help
quickly connected with broadband and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) with
lowest need for a new massive infrastructure and its tremendous financial
investment. In developed countries normally have various options of broadband
and telephony services even if sometimes high-priced. While developing
countries have shortage telecommunications infrastructure. So, it would be
useful at those countries to make use of power line communications (Ma, 2005).
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