internet – workrock

October 6, 2019October 6, 2019

Can the internet be used without optic fibers?

Optical fibers are used in internet backbone. The part of the network that is responsible for global communication.

Optical fibers form what is known as the PHYSICAL layer of the network. While any other medium may be used to carry data, fiber optic cables are the most cost effective and efficient data transport available.

So yes while you can use the internet without fiber optic cables in theory, practically all your data is carried through undersea fiber optic cables.

If someone wants to replace fiber optic then they’ll have to find a new way to transport data.

September 30, 2019September 30, 2019

With such a relatively small amount of transcontinental internet cables, how can billions of users interact simultaneously and almost immediately across the globe?

First let’s talk about capacity provisioning.

Transcontinental lines don’t connect individual users directly. Instead it’s through a series of gateways.

A telecommunication network can broadly be divided into three parts

The backbone
The backhaul
The edge

Normal users like you and me interact with the edge. The edge bandwidth is responsible for serving the users within its range.

For example the wifi router in your home is an edge that is responsible for providing connectivity to all the people within its range. Hence the edge device must be able to accommodate the traffic of it’s users.

So is the telecommunication tower that provides 4G / 5G network.

Going one step up we have backhaul networks. These are set up by the ISPs who lease internet bandwidth from the backbone. Backhauls are gateways for the edge to the global internet lines.

Backhauls are adsl cables, fiber optic in cities, or even wireless networks that talk with base stations.

[The backbone is only responsible for talking with backhauls. It is the responsibility of the backhaul to distribute the internet. ]

There are two implications of this architecture.

The burden of individual connectivity/the last mile connection as it is called, is entirely upon the local ISP. The backbone is done with its job at the termination point (which is usually a coast, which is also why you’ll often notice the coastal cities to have much larger bandwidth than mainlands or on the other extreme no connectivity at all)
If services from a single backbone strand is not able to meet the demands of ISP customers,more lines may be acquired. This happens all the time. People are continuously increasing backbones and at present we have 300-400(difficult to tell the exact number) of these cables.

Finally we come to backbone. The fiber optic cables that provide internet to ISP. These cables are extremely efficient. Each strand is capable of carrying gigabits of data and the cable is composed of multiple strands. The capacity of fiber optic is way more than what we can consume or create.

[And by the way to increase the speed further you don’t even need to replace the cable, a change in modulation scheme will work just as well, so fiber optic cables as carriers of light are future proof,unless a completely new and better technology comes along]

The Internet is decentralized. Thus any part of the network that we discussed can be upgraded whenever limitations arise. From the edge to the backbone without affecting the network as a whole.

Now with the architecture in place the answer to your question about speed is that users are able to interact with each other instantaneously(technically there is always a lag) because communication is performed at the speed of light.

The bottleneck is not the technology but use case. As long as use cases are centered around data consumption it’ll be difficult for the industry to grow.

References

How fiber optics work https://sites.google.com/site/bit4554fiberoptics/how-it-works

How fast can fiber optic be?

https://www.pilotfiber.com/blog/how-fast-can-fiber-optic-internet-be

How does the internet work?

Internet is not a single technology. Instead it’s a stack. A group of technologies working together. These technologies form what is known as internet protocol suite. Which powers computer networks. Many such computer networks work together to form what we know as the global internet.

[ Please note that the explanation below is by no means an exhaustive guide just an overview that’ll quickly help you understand how different networking technologies work together.]

Let’s quickly go through the internet protocol suite (or TCP/IP stack as it’s commonly known)

It consists of 4 layers

The link layer
The internet layer
The transport layer
The application layer

The link layer provides the foundation for communication within a network. This may consist of physical wires like ethernet/fiber optics. Or wireless medium like wifi. Besides providing the physical medium it’s also responsible for giving access to the channel.

This is the layer that is responsible for implementing MAC address required to transmit information between two devices.

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The internet layer is responsible for providing communication between networks. It is at this layer internet protocol is implemented. The process of moving data between networks is called routing.

Each host on the network is identified by an IP address.
Data packets are sent from source by passing them from one router to another until they reach their destination.

The transmission of data through the internet layer is unreliable. It provides no guarantee that the source packet will reach the destination.

[This is because it is difficult to know beforehand what path data will take as it’s routed to destination. ]

[ It may be said that the Internet protocol is stateless. All of the effort is spent in forwarding if packets. None is spent on verifying whether the individual packet was successfully delivered. And due to this property it’s able to address billions of hosts.

And this type of communication is known as connection less communication. ]

—

The transport layer implements the transmission control protocol (or TCP).

The actual data packets that are transmitted by the internetworking layer over the link layer are generated here. Here they are called segments. Once generated segments are forwarded to internet layer where they are assembled into a packet and stamped with IP address.

TCP layer defines the communication channel using ports. It is at these ports that applications and services are running.

Client devices can connect to these applications using the link layer as defined above. The TCP facilitates communication between the client and the application server over network ports.

TCP is a reliable and connection oriented protocol.

While the internet layer provides routing. TCP layer manages the communication process. Making sure it’s reliable, efficient and standardized.

—-

Application layer is the is the place where the services (that a client uses) are running.

Services like

Domain name system
Dynamic host configuration protocol
Simple mail transfer protocol
HTTP servers

run on application layer.

These protocols are used for process to process communication. A client device having a web browser can access the website using http protocol.

An email client like an Android app can access emails using SMTP protocol.

Data encoded by the application layer is passed on to the transport layer where it’s assembled into segments.

Application layer is the one using which we interact with the internet. It’s also the one with which most people are familiar with. We don’t need to know about any other underlying layers. As far as we’re concerned it may not even exist.

But it does.

And this illustrates the core principle of the internet stack. The abstraction of layers. A layer does not need to concern itself with how the other layers perform or work. It only has to make sure that it’s protocol is fulfilled.

——-

That is the gist of how the network works. If you want more specific details into the protocols involved please check out this Wikipedia index

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_the_Internet

[It’s important to note that the internet is more than just the web. There are many other services running on it that are defined by their own protocols.]

[ Finally TCP/IP and OSI are conceptual models to help understand how things work. In real world layers are not stacked as neatly as the model expects. But it’s much simpler nevertheless]

How it all comes together?

To best understand the internet consider a wireless router in your home connected to the internet via your service provider.

When your router is on and connected to the internet

It gets an IP address by your ISP.
It assigns a local IP address to each one of your connected devices using DHCP
On request of client it establishes a connection with a service provider. Like a web server or an email server.
It then routes the client request using the internet layer to a service provider. The web server processes the request and sends the response to the router.
The router sends the response to the device that requested it using the IP address it assigned.

Application

Practically speaking the logical components TCP/IP model are coded into the operating system. Like Debian. So if you buy an appropriate hardware like PC with a network card and some Ethernet cables you can create your own data center.

There is a huge demand for local services that the internet is not able to satisfy. Applications that don’t need global internet to work. That can run offline so to speak.

These services are critical to digitization of processes. Both business and administrative. They don’t require to be available anywhere. But are context sensitive.

Wireless data centers running in colleges, and public places can fulfill this demand. Localized social networks, e-commerce, document management systems that are only needed where they are. Eg in a hospital or a court. To reduce the administrative burden. To improve the information flow.

Such portable data centers present a new opportunity to entrepreneurs, researchers and individuals to create rich and efficient local networks.

workrockin@gmail.com

References

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_the_Internet

OSI and TCP video explanation

https://youtu.be/3b_TAYtzuho

August 29, 2019

How can we build sustainable communication infrastructure?

Our communication infrastructure today consists in large part of undersea and underground cables. These form what is known as the backbone.

This part of the network I believe is mostly insulated from the shocks and disturbances of nature. Infact nature itself provides that insulation. Tsunami’s, Hurricanes,Cyclones affect only the surface of the earth. Underwater it’s peaceful.

Earthquakes have the potential of damaging the fibre but they too are not always earth shattering. And even when they are they affect a tiny region for a small time. Fibres are strong and have very tough shielding. It can be cut but not smashed so easily.

Fiber optic cables have in fact successfully been used as sensors to detect earthquakes!

https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Fiber_Optic_Cables_Find_Use_as_Seismic_Sensors/a63059

But here’s the kicker, climate change won’t be just one thing. It will be unpredictable. We can’t exactly say which part will be affected by what natural force.

Cell towers and other access points that are “out in the open” will probably take most of the battering. Although they are designed to be weather proof they are still susceptible to extreme weather like heavy rainfall or snow. They need regular maintenance. If nothing else rust will eat them away Any disruption in electricity will also render them useless.

On the other hand there are plans to create an internet backbone in space that will run on the sun’s energy. This architecture won’t be susceptible to natural disasters on Earth. When it turns into a reality, it will make our communication system even more robust.

All of this is speculation of worst case scenario that has not yet happened. A negative scenario is on the opposite end of the positive one. So what’s the positive then?

I believe that the communication industry can lead the change in sustainable technology. How?

All of outdoor mobile access points run on electricity powered by non renewable energy sources. The first step could be to provide alternative sources of power. Solar energy coupled with batteries should be a good start.

For places where solar energy is infeasible portable source of power like bio- fuel or hydrogen cells can be used to generate energy required for operation. The advantage that outdoor cells have is for the amount of service they provide they use very little energy. Almost negligible if you count the per user consumption.

But since the demand for communication technology is huge we need a lot of them. Because we need a lot of them they become great large scale labs for alternative sources of energy not only helping it refine for home usage but also kick-starting an industry by providing a ready made market. For example solar cells may not be adequate for home usage but they are ready for small cell towers.

But that is not going to be enough. The design should evolve to make access points smaller, compact and better adapted to the environment. Rather than setting up big towers we should use what is available to us in plenty. Like trees.

At the moment the trees are being viewed as a hindrance to build the infrastructure. But they themselves can provide the foundation for a new smarter telecommunication infrastructure at a cheaper rate.

[Some radio engineers will argue that trees absorb electromagnetic spectrum because of their high water content. But then water is everywhere. We have 70 percent water in our bodies. We simply can’t do way with it. The problem can be solved with directional antennas and multiple access points serving smaller areas. Or by moving the radios to an indoor structure for wider omnidirectional pattern. The possibilities are many. ]

Climate change is not something that we need to be afraid of. We can instead use it as an opportunity to upgrade our infrastructure to be more smarter and sustainable far into the future. Which at the moment it isn’t.

workrockin@gmail.com

August 28, 2019August 28, 2019

Airport wifi

Today airports are more than just transit hubs. They are community and business centers. They are malls. They are the first point of contact for an international tourist.

Most airports around the world want to provide services beyond just air mobility. That is why we can see restaurants, work desks and even hotels inside the building.

At any point in time there may be thousands of guests at an airport and such a huge volume of people need to say connected at all times.

Airport wifi plays a crucial role in meeting the connectivity requirements

Since wifi uses unliscensed spectrum no additional permission needs to be taken by the management. They are free to deploy as many hotspots as they want.
WiFi is one of the most widely supported protocols. It is guaranteed to work across all client devices regardless of what SIM they use.
As a universal connectivity platform wifi can be used to deliver not just the internet but also other services crucial to the co-ordination of ground staff and partner airlines.

Wifi at an airport needs to provide end to end connectivity. It should be a universal and consistent experience for the visitors. It should be inclusive. It must not rely on authentication methods like OTP codes over SMS that require cellular connectivity and become inaccessible to foreign tourists. The very people.who may need connectivity most.

A reliable wifi leads to a better visitor experience. People will spend more time at airports and therefore create possibilities for alternative sources of income for the operators and partners. Through advertisements, value added services like meeting spaces or maybe even entertainment and shopping.

workrockin@gmail.com

August 28, 2019August 28, 2019

Can spending on internet infrastructure be justified economically for developing nations?

Internet solves many problems. A good internet connection means

1. Availability of cheap education for all who are connected. Educated citizens can take better financial decisions and participate in the growth of the country thereby dragging even more people out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

2. Access to all kinds of services. From banking to commercial to redressal of grievances. It reduces the amount of time taken for the services to be rendered. Quick service reaffirms the faith of citizens in their government.

3. Easing of the pressure on state machinery. Digitization of repetitive tasks frees the administration to focus only on most important matters. Which means better decisions are taken and the condition of the nation is improved.

Internet is an enabler for other industries. An investment in Internet yields exponential returns. Even if you lose some money in installation and operation, the cost savings in other areas more than make up for it.

Comparatively speaking internet infrastructure is among the cheapest. What would cost more building a 4 Km road or laying down a 4 Km fiber?

Building a 10 storey tower or adding an access point per floor?

Many other factors can reduce the price of internet. The fact that the internet has become not only a way to surf the web but also to communicate is a big factor. 4G is a completely internet based platform. Voice, and messages are all sent over IP.

Planning well can reduce even the one time installation cost. In a developing country like India,for example, Railtel has one of the largest fiber optic network with nodes at 5000 stations. And Railtel is a subsidiary of Indian railways. By combining the railway and internet infrastructure together India could rapidly penetrate far flung and remote areas at much lower costs.

100s of railway station across India have today become free WiFi hotspots offering millions of people internet absolutely free.

Not only that these fiber optic lines are even leased to mobile network operators to distribute the internet into cities.

Small initiatives like these add up. Reduce the overall cost of access and improve the economy.

workrockin@gmail.com

August 21, 2019

Is intergalectic internet possible?

Light is the fastest communication medium that we know. It takes light a few milliseconds to travel across farthest points on Earth. To be precise in 1 second light can circle around earth 7.5 times.

Internet on Earth works on light. It’s fast and reliable.

Suppose we we’re to set up an internet connection between earth and a station on Sun. Then we’ll be having a latency of about 8 minutes between the two points. Because that’s the amount of time light takes to travel from sun to earth.

It would be a very frustrating experience to communicate back and forth,to say the least. There will be far more timeouts than data transfers.

If we get a bit more ambitions and set an internet in our solar system then end to end latency would be about 4 hours. That’s how much time it takes for light from Sun to Neptune. One positive outcome however is that with such a bad connection the customers won’t even bother to call in for support!

If we persist and manage to wire entire milky way it our end to end latency will rise even higher to a 100K years. Mere mortals like you and me won’t even live to see the delivery receipt of our what’s app messages. Forget about a reply.

Intergalactic internet would require signals to travel millions of light years. With our current technology the communication will be so slow that it might as well have not taken place.

We need a technological breakthrough to be able to communicate over such long distances.

https://workrockin.github.io/simple-wave/

workrockin@gmail.com

August 20, 2019

Do we need free wifi hotspots in the cities?

I’ll try to answer this from a technical perspective not from a political one.

Wifi has traditionally been better suited for internet data. It was built from ground up to do that. It is low powered. It works on open frequency that any one can use. Its cheap. It’s well understood. Every house that has internet has wifi.

Cellular networks were traditionally designed for voice and messages. From the 3rd generation we’ve started seeing the shift towards data. Today even voice and messages are based on internet protocol.

A phone network today provides voice, message and internet. Unfortunately satisfying all there consumer needs have stressed the networks. The solution proposed is to install even more towers. A brute force method of increasing the number of access points to improve connectivity.

However there are a few points that must be considered before such a step is taken

1. Telephone networks are power intensive. Most of them are run on diesel.
2. They require a lot of space to install. Real estate is premium in big cities. And this makes setting up new towers too costly.
3. The mobile networks are segregated. Although there are roaming arrangements between the providers the quality of service varies wildly between networks even in the same region. This often results on poor quality of service for users.

Internet today has become a necessity. Not only does it help people stay connected but also provides critical services like banking, education etc. As more people are coming online we want better connectivity. At the same time we’ve also got to keep the costs low.

Wifi hotspots offer a solution.

– Wifi can be deployed by any one. It does not require any license fee for spectrum usage. Trained professionals for wifi would be easier to find. Unlike telephone network the skill set required to maintain wifi is lower. Maintainence can be done by more people.
– Wifi routers can be customized to offer over the top services like messaging, e-commerce , social networks to communities to help with the efforts of digtization. The open nature of wifi and it’s components make it more flexible. Although such things would be possible on mobile radios it would be much harder.
– Wifi can offload the congestion on mobile networks [2] making them more responsive for critical voice and messaging applications. It will ease the pressure on mobile networks and give them more breathing room.

Additionally they can help make the city more firendly to foreign tourists. Tourists won’t have to shop around for a SIM card before they can get connected. Wifi is universal so anyone can use it from any smart phone.

I welcome the effort to install city wide hotspots but I’m a bit hesitant about the free part. As it is unsustainable. Internet costs money. And the operator must find a way to monetize it.

There are other technical challenges as well. Such as roaming between hotspots and managing user identity. But none of them are major roadblocks. With tweaks these problems can be solved.

I’m excited to see how people react to the initiative.

**Footnotes**

1. When you walk around just try to count the number of telephone towers you see. Notice where they are installed. Try to guess how much the operator would have paid for the spot.

2.https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/white-paper-c11-738429.html

Simple Wave , an inexpensive last mile connectivity platform

https://workrockin.github.io/simple-wave

workrockin@gmail.com

August 20, 2019

Connected coast to coast

Beaches are the most popular holiday destination. Fresh air, relaxed atmosphere, closeness to water and the nature makes it an evergreen attraction. For people of all ages.

Beaches sell themselves. They turn ordinary amneties into a luxury item.

As the flow tourists increase people start providing services. Soon we have beach side restaurants, beach side resorts, beach side shacks.

An entire ecosystem centered around the beach. It’s no surprise then that beaches form one of the most promising sources of revenue for travel industry.

With that insight it’s easy to see that digitizing beaches, making coastal internet connection more robust,will have more than one benefit. Not only will it encourage tourism but also offer more opportunities for commerce.

Beach internet can also serve as the starting point for wireless overhauls extending the network into the mainland.

As a beach wireless communication technology provider workrock helps build the digital beach ecosystem. For tourists. For coast guards. For water, sport organizers, for government, administrators. For anyone and everyone who loves the beach.

Our wireless hotspots work with any wireless capable device. Mobile phones, laptops and tablets. Anywhere you need. All the time. Our technology makes your beach experience better.

With Workrock’s beach network beaches will be more fun to explore. Our wireless beach technology helps :-

– The tourists by easing them into a new place. By helping them check out all the action that is happening on the beach and in the vicinity. Acquainting them with “the way” of your beach.
– Small business economy of restaurants and beach side hotels to advertise their products non intrusively.
– Local community by helping them become a part of a beach wide social network that encourages participation to preserve and promote the ecosystem. Helping regulatory authorities by digitizing licensing and application process.

Workrock wireless networks enable coastal connectivity end to end. Delighting both the tourists and the natives.

workrockin@gmail.com