Daknet

Rethinking connectivity in developing nations .

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Ad hoc network About Daknet Working of Daknet Sneakernet Vs Daknet Application of Daknet A real world example: Bhoomi Daknet economics Challenges to Daknet Conclusion
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What is an ad hoc network?

In Latin, ad hoc special purpose. means "for this," meaning "for this

Local area network (LAN) i.e. built spontaneously as devices connect.

Instead of relying on a base station to coordinate the flow of messages to each node in the network, the individual network nodes forward packets to and from each other. For example- blue tooth, infra red

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About Daknet
Daknet derives from the hindi word dak which means post or postal.

Provides digital connectivity.

The Daknet wireless network takes advantage of existing communications and transportation infrastructure to distribute digital connectivity to outlying villages lacking digital communications infrastructure.

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How Daknet works?

The MAP devices are mounted on specific transports that regularly pass through a series of villages. As the vehicle carrying the MAP comes within the range of each village they automatically sense a wireless connection with a kiosk and deliver and collect data at relatively high bandwidth. Whenever a MAP comes within the range of another kiosk or a hub, data is automatically uploaded to & downloaded from the intranet/internet.

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How Daknet works? (Contd..)

This cycle is repeated for every vehicle carrying MAP unit, thereby creating a low-cost wireless network and seamless communications infrastructure. Even a single vehicle passing by a village once per day is sufficient to provide daily information services.

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Daknet Architecture

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Sneakernet Vs Daknet
Sneakernet is used to transmit data not by phoneline or wireless but rather by foot or sneakers. This method is used when large quantities of data need to be moved and time factor is not important. It uses CDs to transport data with high bandwidth. Data moves very slowly on sneakernets and also it requires fairly extensive manual intervention. Daknet addresses this problem by transmitting data over a wireless link to the e-postman and then to the internet access point. The e-postman need not to do anything other than coming within the range of different users.
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Applications of Daknet
Information distribution /broadcasting: It includes community bulletin boards, transfer of education materials, public health announcements news, music and video broadcasts.

Information collection:
It include collection of environmental sensor information, voting, census/polling, health records and land records. Rural supply chain management: By incorporating global positioning systems the Daknet network can also function as a means of tracking the movement of vehicles and shipments of goods in a geographical area.
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Applications of Daknet (Contd..)

Information searching ,web services: By incorporating new types of internet applications that are designed for non-real time access, many new web-related applications can be developed for the rural market.

(a) A main hospital, with its VSAT connection to the Internet, acts as the hub. (b) The Because the roads are so bad during rainy periods, MAP-enabled Honda motorcycles are used to connect schools to the hub.(c) For locations with Page 10 particularly challenging terrain, there is even a MAP-equipped ox cart.

Bhoomi initiative in India

Bhoomi is a computerization of land records initiative pioneered by the State Govt. of Karnataka in India. It has been recognized as the first national e-governance initiative in India. Daknet makes Bhoomis land records database available to villages up to 40 km away from Bhoomis district headquarters, or taluka,in Doddaballapur. In this deployment a public govt. bus is outfitted with a Daknet MAP to transport land record requests from each village kiosk to the taluka server.
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Bhoomi initiative in India (Contd..)

The server processes requests and outputs land records. The bus then delivers the records to each village kiosk, where the kiosk manager prints them out and collects a payment of 15 rupees per land record. The bus passes by the hub and stops at each village six times per day(3 round-trips). A session occurs each time the bus comes within the range of a kiosk and the MAP transfers data. The average length of a session is 2 minutes and 34 seconds.

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Bhoomi initiative in India (Contd..)

The server processes requests and outputs land records. The bus then delivers the records to each village kiosk, where the kiosk manager prints them out and collects a payment of 15 rupees per land record. The bus passes by the hub and stops at each village six times per day(3 round-trips). A session occurs each time the bus comes within the range of a kiosk and the MAP transfers data. The average length of a session is 2 minutes and 34 seconds. During this session, MAP transfers an average of 20.9 MB unidirectional and up to twice that amount bidirectional. The average good put for a session, during which the MAP and kiosk go in and out of connection because of mobility and obstructions is Page 13 2.47 Mbps.

Bhoomi initiative in India

DakNet support of the Bhoomi e-governance project. Map shows route between Bhoomi database and village kiosks.

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Daknet Economics
The total cost of the Daknet MAP equipment used on the bus is Rs.28,400/-, which includes

a custom embedded PC running Linux with 802.11b wireless card and 512 Mb of compact flash memory;
a 100-mW amplifier, cabling, mounting equipment, and a 14-in omnidirectinal antenna; an uninterruptible power supply powered by the bus battery

The average total cost of equipment used to make a village kiosk or hub daknet ready is Rs.9,100/-.
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Challenges to Daknet
Although WiFi is simple to deploy relative to other radio/telecommunications equipment, developing countries often lack the local talent required to implement and operate WiFi networks. Custom duties and other processes for certain WiFi equipment such as amplifiers and antenna can create a major time and cost barrier to Daknet. Power is another obstacle as villages remain without power for at least 4 hrs everyday. End-users have limited ICT literacy.
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Conclusion
The low cost proposition of Daknet can bring ICT access to rural and remote areas sooner and more easily than would be possible with other technology. ICT access provides direct benefits of increasing access to information. In addition, through other complementary applications, Daknet can serve as an enabler of other development efforts in areas such as education, health and commerce.

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