1. US-Korea Joint Workshop on Digital Libraries SDSC - August 10-11, 2000 Edward A. Fox and Cortney Martin Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA Broadband Wireless Networking in Rural Virginia Case study: Blacksburg

2. #2 Applications such as digital libraries, distance learning, telemedicine, video streaming, videoconferencing, and the e- economy are dependent on next generation broadband networks. But these applications hit a bottleneck at most offices and homes. High Capacity Backbone Network Modem, DSL, Cable Modem The Problem Largely copper and coax

3. #3 Connectivity Options Dial-up Modems xDSL - limited availability, constraints on distance from CO. Cable Modems- shared medium limits avail. bandwidth, not available to most businesses. Satellite – one way, uses telephone return; not good for serving information. Leased lines Direct Fiber – limited availability Bandwidth Affordability

4. #4 One Solution is Broadband Wireless, or LMDS Local Multipoint Distribution Service –A “Last Mile” communication solution –1150 MHz of licensed microwave frequency in 28-31 GHz range –A broadband wireless alternative to fiber, copper or coax –Will remove the bottlenecks between advanced communication networks and the home and office –More than twice the bandwidth of the combined total of radio, broadcast television, and cell telephone –Throughput of 10 Gbps (10,000 Mbps)

5. Virginia Tech Won Four A Block Licenses in the 17 th FCC Spectrum Auction 40% of the area of Virginia

6. #6 LMDS offers a LOT of bandwidth (comparison to previous auctions) 020040060080010001200 MHz Interactive & Video Data Wireless Communications Service PCS D-F Block Digital Audio Radio Service Cellular Unserved PCS A-C Block DBS MMDS LMDS LMDS is: - 1300 MHz in two “Blocks” ( 28-31 GHz) - Over 2X bandwidth of AM/FM radio, VHF/UHF television, and Cellular telephone combined. - More than sum of previous 16 auctions

7. LMDS is just another access medium and can be used for voice data or video A network can be made up of any combination of point-to-point wireless, point-to- multipoint, and wireline solutions Images from www.wavtrace.com

8. #8 Advantages of LMDS Fast to deploy, no digging roads Solution to lack of fiber in some rural areas Build-out on demand, scalable Multi-Gigabit capacity Can provide integrated services: voice/data/video Challenges Requires “line of sight” between Tx and Rx Signal attenuation by rain and moisture in vegetation Shorter range requires more hub sites for coverage

9. #9 Multi-disciplinary Team is Working to Solve the Problems Information Systems –Communications Network Services –Digital Library Research Laboratory Academic Departments & Research Centers –Center for Wireless Telecommunications –Space and Wireless Business Center (SAWBUC) Virginia Tech Foundation Area Communities Operational Deployments, Community Outreach Engineering and Business Research

10. #10 Virginia Tech and Wavtrace Deployed an LMDS Testbed in Blacksburg, VA First deployed in May, 1999 - First TDD system, first rural deployment Wavtrace Point-to-Multipoint wireless SONET supports N x T1 at remote sites Typical services include Ethernet/IP and T1 channels for Internet/Intranet access; analog voice lines; VoIP; streaming video; H.323/MPEG-2 videoconferencing Wavtrace next generation system uses wireless ATM to support up to 180 Mbps per carrier

11. Blacksburg LMDS Deployment March 2000 (Hub, 3 beams, 8 remotes; serving offices, apartments, ISPs) Area: 19 sq miles Pop: 36,000

12. #12 Viewshed From LMDS Hub

13. #13 LMDS Hub Site at Slusher Hall Radio Hut Wavtrace Tower 1Wavtrace Tower 2

14. #14 Hub Indoor Equipment at Slusher Radio Hut OC3 link to MSAP Net Mgmt Ports

15. #15 Slusher Tower Remote outdoor equipment can be mounted in a variety of ways

16. #16 Apartment Owners Want Obscure Antennas Wavtrace Remote TRA

17. #17 Weather data is collected at several sites Signal attenuation due to rainfall continues is of interest to the industry Rain cells are typically small Station tracks: –Outdoor temperature –Indoor temperature –Wind speed and direction –Rainfall http://remote1.lmds.vt.edu/weather.htm

18. #18 Temporary Indoor Equipment Configuration Adtran T1 CSU/DSU/Voice Mux Baytech Remote Controller Cisco 2621 Router 3COM Ethernet Hub for Mgmt Wavtrace Indoor Unit

19. #19 Experience with LMDS Quick to deploy (enables service provider to capture customers before a competitor does) Build-out, or relocate, as needed Useful for sites not readily accessible to other broadband services Signal loss due to rain must be compensated for Operation, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning is similar to other telecomm. equip.

20. #20 Ways to Profitability? Provide good performance and reliability Create an MSAP for local high speed peering, collocation, and content services Bundle and/or integrate voice, data, and video services–partner if needed Make use of fiber, twisted-pair, coax, and other media, in addition to wireless, where effective

21. LMDS Connects to Blacksburg MSAP (Multimedia Service Access Point) Local Businesses Local Government Local Schools Local Businesses Local ISP Wireless LMDS College- Univ. IP Routing Directory Security Content Management MSAP Cache Local ISP Internet Network VA / Internet Local NAP Fiber Community Facility for local peering and collocation of broadband network and appl. services Reduces cost for service providers by reducing need for higher tier Internet capacity Improves network performance by removing Internet bottlenecks Facilitates broadband applications (e.g., VoIP, music, video on demand, home office, distance learning) Makes customers happy!!!

22. Eventually LMDS could be used in combination with other wireless and wireline technologies to reach individual homes

23. #23 There is a great deal of interest in LMDS in rural SW Virginia and planning for deployments is underway by CNS and CWT Smyth County Floyd County

24. Cortney Martin Communications Network Services For more information: www.lmds.vt.edu lmds@vt.edu