AirJaldi Summit – Dharamsala, India
Above is a link to a meeting on license-free WiFi networks, centered on what has been built at Dharmasala, the venerable Dalai Lama’s headquarters (he was denied the opportunity to visit Sri Lanka for the 2550 Buddha Jayanti, despite all the Buddhist rhetoric of our current government: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=1,2155,0,0,1,0.)
But that is another story.
What they can do in Dharmasala, we cannot do in Sri Lanka. Underlines the need for revision on the obsolete 1991 Act.
Here’s an article on the Mahavilachchiya Mesh Networking Pilot Project funded by Pan Asia from Daily Mirror (May 9, 2006) that talks about the problems with having to pay for frequencies [that in many other countries are unlicensed] and how it is preventing connectivity solutions in rural areas.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/05/09/ft/12.asp (Subscription required)
“Despite the fact that his project would cater to the requirements of a very rural community, it is now facing restrictive frequency licensing fees imposed by the Government telecommunication regulations. The jungle terrain of Mahavilachchiya has prevented optimum coverage and necessitated an increase in the number of nodes to be used (preliminary testing was carried out using two nodes); consequently, the frequency charges have gone beyond the budget availability of the project. Currently discussions are underway to reduce the license fees drastically so that the funding for this project will be sufficient to provide connectivity to all 30 homes.”
Aren’t we all hypocrites in this country?
We talk so much about Ahimsa, Metta, Karuna and Muditha and wage war at the drop of the hat.
We talk so much about Buddhist heritage and prevent Dalai Lama visiting our country.
We talk so much about taking ICTs to villages and put all the barriers to it, in the form of licensing of WiFi, which makes an Internet connection for a rural user more than hundred times costlier than what it is for an urban user.
We talk so much about building a brave new generation of IT and let a 70 year old ailing dinosaur to lead that program.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
The list is endless.
In honor of the Dalai Lama, LIRNEasia will offer to contribute its knowledge to the Dharamsala Summit. When he has the time, our resident WiFi expert will make the necessary inquiries. If the Dalai Lama is not allowed to come to Sri Lanka, at least some people from Sri Lanka should go to him.
Hi This is Revantha I am quite new to this forum but have been associating with the Horizon Lanka foundation for quite some time, and have been following up on the so called mesh networking project (launched by ICTA and ETPL- Enterprise Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, after much fanfare, which is quite usual I guess) during my tenure at UNDP from last year onwards.
I’ve recently visited Mahavilachchiya over the last weekend (vesak holidays) My primary objective was to see how far the so called mythical mesh networking project has progressed and the benefits to the community at large. Cos I’ve seen on most occasions how ICTA was going on and on the project while ETPL was dragging their feet on the implementation…
as oppose to what’s said written on the article on daily mirror (http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/05/09/ft/12.asp) where the author(s) boast about test sites, high speed internet connectivity and all the other nice to have stuff none exist at the real site.. NON EXIST MY FRIENDS !!!!!
I found out that none of the test sites are functioning , the antenna mounted on for the distribution purpose is a mere 6-9dbi low gain omini directional antenna which is mounted on the existing LankaCom tower. The antenna does not have sufficient gain to provide even a 36Kbps connectivity to the test sites which are located around 100-125m (LOS- line of sight basis) away from the central site.
I also fail to understand how an Low Gain Omini Directional Antenna mounted on a central site and a Directional Antenna mounted on subscriber could work in tandem….
The main wireless access point/bridge used is from Strix Systems (www.strixsystems.com) is more geared towards providing wifi access in indoors and not in an outdoor situation. Hence the project is a failure BIG TIME….
in a Nutshell I like to point out that: the so called ICT gurus in Colombo tend to get loss with newer and emerging communication technologies; Mesh networking is fine in the Metropolis but may not be ideally suited in the same format for the rural areas of Sri Lanka, primarily due to the capital cost and the complexity of the technologies involved. I am not completely negating the effects of Wireless Mesh Networking but the implementer has to choose the technology case by case, in the case of Horizon lanka a simple point to multipoint links with couple of redundant backbone wireless access point would have achieved the project deliverables in no time.
But sadly the project implementer has chosen to do justice to a preferred equipment vendor by overlooking the benefits to the Mahavilachchiya community at large WHICH IS VERY PATHETIC…….
Almost all the houses in Mahavilachchiya has Electricity the only lacking factor is Communication should the project taken off the ground we would have seen how strongly VOIP enabled technology could be implemented with a local touch to the benefits of this community, but like I said sadly this process is not happening.
True enough TRC would have it’s objections but has the gurus in ICTA, ETPL and TRC looked at the big picture is the big Question . Friends much could be achieved if we use the right technology at the correct place but sadly in the local context that’s not happening ICTA is lost in their own world while TRC is battling a survival game and has lost touch with the real world — the End Results is We as a Country Sadly Does Not progress with the Tech Advancements in improving the quality of the People at Large…..
Guess this is all for now will pop in again adios amigos …… will post some pictures on my tour very soon…
Hi, this is Krishan just went through the article which was done by a Sri Lankan called Revantha who I personally think does not have a clue about ICT developments in the country. I feel like he has other personal interest in Mahavilachchiya but not IT development.
This so called former UNDP guru has visited this village trying to impress the vilagers in what he thinks and knows about mesh networking. Hey, just to tell you first check the TRC regulations and then talk about what you want to tell. He says he has a more powerful antenna at his home, then it’s high time the cops visit his house since he is doing something illegal!
So truly I feel this guy should keep his mouth shut and let the ICTA do there job. ICTA has been very active in getting all necessary approvals and licenses with ETPL from TRC and when they actually complete the job anybody could visit the site and make comments rather than trying to comment on a test implementation.
I personally thought of writing this simply to tell others too that pls. don’t write for the sake of writing but try best to make this discussion site more meaningful. Anyone can write rubbish, it is only valuable if what you are saying is the truth.
Hi Krishan,
First I am not a guru and Please dont label me as an UNDP guru…and please dont get UNDP into this context, fine if you say so I do not have a clue about the ICT developments in the country thats ok tooo. I’ve been in the field long enough to know what is wireless what is wired and what is mesh networking and what is ICT development(s)
Your grammar and the articulate language speaks for your professionalism sir.. for which I pity yourself. If the admin of this forum wants to shut the door for me thats fine too. I guess kishan you actually dont have a clue about the mesh Networking project and the history of it for which I dont think it would be of any use to argue with you since you arguments are biased by nature…
Fine let the cops raid my home no issue on that as per the TRC regulations indoor wifi on ISM band 2.4GHZ is fine. I do not know whether that argument has change by now but any way if that’s the case i am prepared to pay the fine no issue on that.
What I wanted to elaborate was to use the correct technology at the correct place without trying to do justice to preferred vendors. I’ve been in the field long enough to see successful wifi implementation carried out by an innovative group of handful local ISP’s using variety of low cost solutions. As well I have seen and heard how successful long distance wireless communication projects have been implemented in other developed/developing countries and the benefits they have brought apart to the communities at large.
well if I am uttering rubbish thats for the readers of this forum to judge not for a single person to judge that fact. Also Rukshan I know the prevailing TRC regulations on the ISM band and I know the difficulties TRC is facing in making the band free of charge for the public usage. The question I put forward was to forgo all these barriers and look at the community at large the benefits it could reap for the kids in an around Mahavilachchiya if this project get going.
As a Final note I do not have any interest in Mahavilachchiya, except for that fact that I do have a personal interest on the natural beauty surrounding Mahavilachchiya and the uncomplicated life style of the villagers… Over to you.. also Kishan if the test sites are not working can we look forward to a real implementation over… to your fellow reader to Judge…
Adios….
Also Kishan I am Proud to Call my self a “SRI LANKAN” !! are you from another nationality ? was just curious since you did start your blog by saying
“Hi, this is Krishan just went through the article which was done by a Sri Lankan called Revantha”
This is a response to the email posted by Revantha Udugampola shown below. It is distressing to see that someone with little knowledge on the facts of this rural project can make accusations. A true professional will not make statements without checking if his assumptions are in fact true.
I have worked on this project from its inception so I know the facts and I have been fighting very hard to get this project off the ground. What I want to bring to you is the truth about this project and not just a mere outsider’s viewpoint based on false assumptions.
The mesh networking project in Mahavilachchiya project is a pilot project to test a new innovative networking solution that has been successful internationally, especially in Indonesia, Bangladesh, USA, Canada and the UK. ETPL chose Strix Systems because it has proven to be reliable and robust and requires minimum operational maintenance and support. Since Horizon Lanka is in a remote town with dense jungle, this system was chosen not because of it’s low cost, but because it was the best equipment in the market that fit the necessary specifications.
This project is not dragging; on the contrary it is due for completion in the end of July as originally scheduled. The only unexpected bottleneck faced was in acquiring the TRC licenses for the equipment. TRC does not allow the use of high gain antenna’s above 8dBi for 2.4GHz and 15dBi for 5.3GHz. Thereby it is against the law for anyone to use antennas of a higher gain than this. We have been in discussion with TRC on the high license fee (which Horizon Lanka will have to pay yearly) and they have informed us that this fee will be reduced to a more affordable amount soon after passing Government approval. Horizon Lanka has already received TRC approval and is now awaiting security clearance for the necessary frequencies so this project is not “mythical”.
Contrary to what Revantha says, when I called Wanni (who is the founder of Horizon Lanka), he informed me that the test sites are working but currently one computer was shifted to another location therefore they are not using one of the sites.
In reference to the statement on omni-directional and directional antenna working in tandem, it is similar to a point to multipoint system, nothing special.
As an IT professional that has worked in the US and come back to Sri Lanka to help the country develop by working on rural projects, I am deeply saddened by comments made such as below. New technology is emerging everyday and if Sri Lanka wants to develop as fast as other Asian countries have, why should we push aside a technology that has proven itself? There are several cheap solutions for wireless networking but very few are resilient and have successful implementations under jungle terrain conditions. To every
In conclusion, there are no major hurdles left to complete this project and it will be completed as scheduled. The Mahavilachchiya project is a pilot project and it is bad taste to condemn it before it is implemented.
Hi RW,
My knowledge on wireless and RF techniques might be limited an I may not be an IT or an engineering professional such as you… nevertheless none of the test sites were working while I was there from last Friday to Saturday, the facts would speak to them self for which I do not want start another barrage of argumnets (even if you visit Mahavilachchiya today you could see it for your self, I’ve been told the reception is poor and some time there is connectivity for couple minitues only).
In any case the single Strix systems unit used was more of an indoor class unit,thats as per the data sheet of the unit says…(correct me if i am wrong) By the way I did call wanni in the morning (today) and he did said that none of the remote sites are working, by the way wanni is in badulla my friend and right now not in Mahavilachchiya….
To make a long story short since you gave an assurance that the project would be concluded by the stipluated dates lets wait till such time since facts would speak for them selfs. My only hope is that be it mesh or point to point, Strix systems or Metrix or Mikrotik the project would be able to deliver the goods as per the stipluated budget (LKR 2.8Million I belive) and the Kids in Mahavilachchiya would be able to enjoy at least some level of seamless connectivity to the Internet and broaden theire knowledge….
thx..
Does anyone know anything about unlicensing the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands in Sri Lanka?
Sometimes back, I heard it was done and now they charge only a nominal fee of Rs.100 per Access point. Am I correct? If so what is this big problem about implementing a wireless network?
magechinthana,
you are correct mate last i heard from TRC is that 2.4Ghz ISM band was to be deregularized at a nominal cost of 100bucks per AP as per the TRC act it canot be made zero value.. but I am yet to find out any infor as to wether the necessary changes to the acts has been done…. but if that process has already I fail to understand the rationale behind some of the arguments raised above by the author RW…
5.1Ghz ISM band yet to be touched by the regulator but i’ve seen some sort of proposal callout by TRC for 5Ghz band usage related stuff on last weeks DailyNews
Folks you would be interested in looking at the following URL as to how innovative people have been in useing wirless mesh networking cocepts in this part of the world; please refer :
http://summit.airjaldi.com/home/dharamsala-wireless-mesh-network/
sadly most of the IT shops in Sri lanka tends to lock horns on propriory vendor solutions (this I guess is common not only in IT but i guess in most of the other aspects as well in our society) without going that extra mile to be CREATIVE….
Dear RW,
You give a long reply to the issues Revantha raised, but carefully avoid answering some of the very important technical questions he asks. Let me ask them again.
1. You say: [quote] This project is not dragging; on the contrary it is due for completion in the end of July as originally scheduled. The only unexpected bottleneck faced was in acquiring the TRC licenses for the equipment.[unquote]
Why do you say this bottleneck was unexpected? Of course, if you have visited the SLTRC web site you should have known that the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands are not free/deregulated in Sri Lanka. (though they may be free in Dharamsala) Didn’t you know this, when you started the project?
Further, we still don’t know whether these bands will be deregulated or not. That is up to SLTRC. So how can you give a guarantee that this project will be complete by end of July?
2. Renantha says: [quote] The main wireless access point/bridge used is from Strix Systems (www.strixsystems.com) is more geared towards providing wifi access in indoors and not in an outdoor situation.[unquote]
I do not think you have addressed this issue fully. Why do you want to use a system more geared towards providing indoor wifi access in an outdoor LAN? Why not use an outdoor unit (with the proper antenna)? This wont be a problem if SLTRC deregulates the bands. What matters is not the power of the antennas but the bandwidth.
So why do you think an omni directional indoor unit is better than a multi directional outdoor unit in a multi point out door network?
Dear Revantha,
In one of your posts you say: [quote] I’ve been in the field long enough to see successful wifi implementation carried out by an innovative group of handful local ISP’s using variety of low cost solutions. [unquote]
Can you please give us some examples where such projects have been carried out. I ask only about outdoor wireless LANs. Not Indoor. If SLTRC has not deregulated the 2.4 and 5 GHz bandwidths how can anyone implement such LANs? How can they bring the equipment to SL?
Can you please elaborate?
Well “Sat on a wall” I do not want to start a name game… as per my knowledge there are 2 ISP (probably more)in Colombo who are using Wireless technologies to deliver internet and other data services to a varied set of clients, using equipment from Aironet/Cisco to Mikrotik and what not…
let me take you a brief historical journey as to why the TRC is facing issues of de-regularizing the ISM 2.4Ghz band.. long before the ISM band came in limelight TRC allocated the 2.4Ghz band (more or less allocated it over) to couple of local ISP’s, this was during the era of I would say 1990′s and charged them a fee for using the frequency, so if now all of a sudden TRC goes on and make the frequency free for all they would be entangled on a legal issue with the ISP’s who have been paying for the frequency all this while….plus due to the inherent limitations of the 2.4Ghz ISM band if the band is made free for all (for outdoor I mean) the ISP’s using the band at the moment might encounter service quality issues as well. SO looking at these issues it’s a long journey ahead to get things sorted out…
I am not aware of the 5Ghz band usage locally but you never know it may be used in the tiger territory…
Revantha,
I have read about the Mesh network at http://summit.airjaldi.com/home/dharamsala-wireless-mesh-network/
Yes, this is a very good example and I am sure we in Sri Lanka can learn a lot from this example. However, don’t you think everything in Dharamsala had been made possible because outdorr WiFi has been deregulated last year.
Do you think the same will be possible here, if the TRC deregulates outdorr WiFi? Any idea when that will be done?
This is what they say about the devices they use.
The AJMR is built around a SBCs (Single Board Computers) which we extract from low-cost popular WiFi devices such as Linksys’s WRT54G.
While most of the SBCs we use, utilizes a 200mhz MIPS CPU with 4Mb of Flash memory and 16Mb of RAM, we also use much lower-scale units and recently also more powerful units. We find the Netgear WGT634U, to be most suitable for our application and we are happy to see a constant decrease in it’s price. This small SBC draws less power then its bulkier cousins, features a MiniPCI slot for radio card, hosting a great Atheros b/g radio, double the flash and ram of the WRT54G and maybe the greatest feature of all is a USB2.0 port.
Does this mean they manufacturte their own devices (at least partially)? Can we do that here? If so that will definitely reduce the cost of the equipment. Any thoughts?
Hi Magechintha,
thanks you sir for your kind words I will come back to you shortly on the issues you raised. Just want to put this idea across isnt it high time that we put together a wireless user group like the once which exist in other countries…(will give you example soon)
Forum members over to you wouldnt it be a good idea…appreciate your input…
thx..
Dear RW from ETPL,
I am waiting for your replies to my two questions.
Can someone tell me more about this WIFI project at Maha-somewhere? Sorry I cannot access the Daily Mirror site.
Catalyst 4948,
You could find more infor on http://www.apdip.net/projects/ictrnd/2004/L43-lk/
also have a look on http://www.horizonlanka.org
thx
Catalyst,
In addition to what Revantha says, this is what you find in ICTA site.
ICTA looks at Innovative Communication Solutions for Rural Sri Lanka
Mahavilachchiya Mesh Networking Pilot Project
25th April 2006
A student in the rural areas of Sri Lanka has to pay an average of Rs. 150 for 30 minutes as internet surfing charges mainly because service is scarce in these areas. This amount does not include transportation costs and the time spent to reach the internet café. The demand for knowledge of IT has increased in Sri Lanka but not at the pace of other developing countries mainly due to barriers such as the high cost of hardware equipment and system software, high Internet surfing charges (to be paid to the ISP separately), telecommunication charges (to be paid to the telecom service provider), cost of electricity and value added taxes (VAT) applicable to the above services. These reasons prevent rural children from advancing and reaping the benefits of IT.
The Horizon Lanka Institute is a non profit organization situated in Mahavilachchiya that provides education including English, Science, Mathematics, Computer Science and Graphics to about 200 village kids. This school is exceptional because they have been able to receive aid from foreign donors to provide children with computers to their homes. The children have a zeal to learn about computers and have developed websites after studying graphics and web design. Currently about 50 households have computers but they do not have internet access nor are they connected in a network.
In February 2005, ICTA partnering with Enterprise Technology (Pvt) Ltd, was awarded a grant by the Pan Asia ICT R&D grants program to set up a pilot mesh network in Mahavilachchiya. Mesh networking is a new innovative solution that can provide a low cost communication network to villages in rural areas that are hardest to reach. This pilot project aims at providing high-speed internet access to 30 households and to identify the key success factors for sustainable services. New Orleans recently built a free citywide network using mesh technology after identifying that it could have facilitated in the Katrina hurricane relief.
Mesh networking comprises of a series of smart digital routers (Meshboxes) designed to carry high performance wireless internet over a wide area. Mesh networking is unique because instead of having a central server which determines how data is passed between computers, the mesh creates a network of equals, so individual computers find the best way to communicate with each other. All the computers are connected together to form a resilient network in such a way that the more devices there are on a network, the more routes there are through it. It can grow organically and will automatically organize itself. The ad hoc nature of the mesh makes it easy to start small and expand where necessary, without the complex reprogramming involved with adding to a traditional, top-down network. If one node were to fail, the network will automatically redirect data through an alternative route.
Despite the fact that his project would cater to the requirements of a very rural community, it is now facing restrictive frequency licensing fees imposed by the Government telecommunication regulations. The jungle terrain of Mahavilachchiya has prevented optimum coverage and necessitated an increase in the number of nodes to be used (preliminary testing was carried out using two nodes); consequently, the frequency charges have gone beyond the budget availability of the project. Currently discussions are underway to reduce the license fees drastically so that the funding for this project will be sufficient to provide connectivity to all 30 homes.
Hi Magechinthana,
Apologies for the late reply, late me address your concerns;
Please refer to the following web sites to get an overview of the SBC devices which are more geared towards setting up low cost but highly reliable wireless infastrcutures
http://www.mikrotik.com
http://www.metrix.net
I know for a fact that Mikrotik devices are used heavily by LankaCom to deploy there wireless services to the clients, metrix is yet to be heard and used in Sri Lanka but Mikrotik has a big time presence with the ISP LankaCom.
Sadly none of the above devices are reachable to us cos the mighty TRC may block us from getting the units, thats a sad story but we are actually beeing deprived of useing an innovative low cost solutions to achive many a things in the case of Mahavillachiya there are plenty of low cost viable solutions available but sadly none are explored.
Please checkout the sites for wireless antennas and other gadgets.
http://www.hyperlinktech.com
http://www.sharperconcepts.net
Also Linksys WRT54G comes with a Linux kernel which could be fine tuned and custermized as well. I will shortly share with you couple of publications on low cost viable wireless technologies accessible to developing countries.
thx..
Hi “Sat on a wall”,
I dont think RW will come back with answers, not too sure what the rationale for her to matain the silence..
Has this site now become the place for people to settle their personal grudges with others?
In one thread we hear about the Catholic mafia and the grandmother of Prof. Samaranayake and in another thread this guy Revantha uses the free web space to tarnish the image of a competitor.
Given that he himself is a network engineer, how ethical for Revantha to talk about the failures of the projects implemented by the competitors? Should he abuse this free web space for that purpose like this?
If he is so passionate about ICT for development activities, isn’t it better for him to get involved in such projects himself than criticising what others do? Will Revantha like if one of his own competitors use this space to critisise his activities? If Revantha is not the person who finances this project why is he so concerned?
Dear Muditha,
I have no grudges against ETPL or ICTA please don’t get my professional affiliation into this context. I am merely highlighting the actual facts, which I believe the members of the forum would understand…
I am open for criticism always and I have no hidden agenda’s it seems Muditha that you are representing a particular party since your comments are biased by nature.
I have no affiliations to Horizon Lanka (though i have been assisting them in my own small ways by donating used computers and ICT related publications) and i have no affiliations to UNDP right now.
Muditha I am not financing this project that’s true but I have all the right to highlight what’s happening and what’s not happenings on a process which I have a interested in, and I believe I own that right and you have no right to contradict it. Your representation in this forum highlight quite clearly about your professionalism in addressing an issue of this nature
In a Nut Shell Muditha you are still too SMALL and amateurish my friend in addressing the deep impacts of this project.. this dialogue goes beyond your thinking patterns which are limited, may I say that you wait for couple years and have your eyes wide open to the happenings of the world and spend more time in reading more material on different aspects of ICT and it’s development related publications… just a piece of advice my friend…take it or leave it no issue (checkout http://www.ieee.org there are some fantastic articles, checkout http://www.cuwireless.net for wireless community network implementation you would be amazed )
Also Muditha if I am abusing this free space the admin of the forum would have shut me down long time ago. just need to wind of by elaborating the fact that I have no grudges against ETPL (inclusive of RW) or the ICTA…I have been in touch with RW from last year (on occasionally though) and have proposed that atleast they (she) get in touch with the Network research group of the Waikato university in New Zealand (http://www.crc.net.nz/ ) in exchanging information and best practices related to similar rural wireless networking projects of this nature. But sadly none had been heeded to so far. Now please don’t lambaste me saying I have an affiliation to University of Waikato in NZ !!!!
I need the members in this forums to see the actual picture and by enlarge at least make a long lasting effort for the said project to be successfully implemented with the proper proven viable technology(s)… and bring about a benefits to the communities concern and aim for replicating a similar model in other rural areas of Sri Lanka…. That’s all my friend my agenda is Simple “Connectivity to everybody, use the proper technology viable to our country and give more power to the local tech thinkers and innovators to go that extra mile to be innovative” that’s all…
I am no RF expert and no Network Expert so Over to you…
thx..
Sorrey folks the above Muditha should be Muchalinda apologies for the typo…
I agree with Muchalinda. This site should not be one where competitors bad mouth each other but one where people could voice suggestions and say something that will benefit the IT industry in Sri Lanka. It seems like Revantha really has no job but to reply to people…
This is the last time I will voice my opinion, but I check this blog on and off to see if people have any quality words to share. I was disappointed to see Revantha completely criticise a project that he has no involvement in just because he is a competitor. Settle your personal grudges seperately and spare us the pain of reading it especially if you do not have your facts straight.
So please, for the sake of others, make true statements that will raise discussion to help us develop and get ahead in IT.
Hi “Sat on a Wall”
The article you shared above speaks volumes about the wireless mesh networking and it’s benefits that would bring about to the communities and all the other good things..but sadly the author(s) fail to address the economical viability and the sustainability of the technology in a local context (it may be fine in the US of A ) in a nutshell I would like to post the following question to RW and the others :
1.Mesh box if implemented who is going to maintain ?? what resources do you need for it’s sustainability and do you think it would be viable for each house in Mahavilachchiya to maintain a mesh box just facilitate the mesh networking infrastructure
2. who is going to pay for the electricity for the mesh box (even if the consumption is ultar low)
3.what are we trying achieve with a mesh box if there is only one internet link coming to the village as oppose to multiple redundant links terminating at key locations. Since the original agenda was to provide internet access to the kids around the area from the 128k single internet link terminating at the horizon lanka foundation complex
4.what costs are we talking about in terms of the mesh box implementation and what technologies are we looking into (open source or otherwise)
The Mahavilachchiya project was inaugurated or at least the funds were approved to the ICTA as far back in 2004/Dec (http://www.apdip.net/projects/ictrnd/2004/L43-lk/) what are the deliverables so far ??? other than mounting omini-directional antenna on an existing tower which hardly relays a useful signal for less than 100m (may be 70m,) and setting up non functioning two point to point links as oppose to much talked about mesh topology links…
I am no scientist but it is my thinking that if I am running a test site I should include to the test site at least partially the actuals of the live or the intended configuration… but in context of the ongoing dialogue the implementor talks about wireless mesh networking but have tested point-to-point links is this the reality ??? isn’t the mesh box missing ??? or did the TRC said no to use the mesh box ??? WHERE IS THE MESH BOX ????
Nimal,
I am not a competior as you class me Just becuase I mentioned a name of an ISP in the local context dont jump into conclusions… as for the rest you said I leave for the forum members to judge…
thx..
I think this guy Revantha works with Donald Gaminitilaka. Both have very similar characteristics. Both have nothing else to do at their offices so go on critisising others without doing anything worthwhile themselves. Both are not happy with ICTA. Apparently both of them have so much time to kill posting here.
My Dear Friend Muchalinda,
I do not have any relationship with Mr.Donald Gaminitilaka, but i believe he is presence is very widely felt in an another forum of this site… anyways since you mention about the ICTA and I am being venomous towards the ICTA; I would like to kindly remind you to look at the crust of the issue which is highlighted above posts..
I respect for what ICTA is trying to achieve and I criticize when they fail to look at the big picture so in that essence i have no hidden agenda’s in tarnishing the image of the ICTA nor of it’s representatives… you are petty minded you are locked in your own little world my friend wake up don’t wash other dirty linen.. see for your self what’s happening and then speak out….
thx..
Revantha, I personally would appreciate if you could not take up space in the blog criticizing what people before you have written. I notice a common trend in your writing, you crush a thought and then attack that person if you do not agree. Recognise that everyone has a right to a different view and your view is not always the right one.
Let’s all try to get along instead of “judging” and write more about wifi technology and how it can impact Sri Lanka.
While we are at the topic of Mahawilachchiya let me add what I have heard. (Please correct me, if I am wrong.)
After the GKP Forum, there was a plan to take some of the international delegates to Mahawilachchiya village to show the good work that had been done there. In fact, this was initially organized by Grandfather Sam’s own people.
At the last moment Grandfather Sam vetoed this visit ostensibly because of the security.
Security in Mahawilachchiya? I think Colombo is much more dangerous. GKP Forum was held at Hilton, just less than one kilometer from a location a bomb blast took place few weeks back.
It is not difficult to guess why Grandfather Sam stopped the international delegates visiting Mahawilachchiya. It was an achievement of another bright young man. And to Grandfather Sam young and bright professionals are like chili power in his eyes. How can he let international delegates see a project where he has no had, and a project which he himself has criticized so much just few months back?
I know even by writing this I may put NW in further trouble, but we do need to bring these issues to the public domain.
I think it is great that we have this forum. Now we have an opportunity to discuss issues like this which perhaps five years ago, Grandfather Sam would have conveniently swept under the carpet.
Doc Livingston,
As for the GKP forum and the aftermath I too heard that the delegates were to visit the Mahawilachchiya to see the functions carried out by Horizon Lanka and the impact on the community at large, but I guess the visit did not go through, not too sure what the rationale was to cancel the visit last moment but guess a security issue was highlighted…
But folks as correctly pointed out by Dr. Livingstone Mahawilachchiya could be termed more safer than Colombo I never encountered any issues while visiting and spending the night over By the way there are already two female volunteers from UK who are loved by the kids and are tasked with teaching english to the kids…
I would like to invite armchair critics to visit Mahawilachchiya and see the true facts…
Mahavilachchiya was found by a Daily Mirror feature journerlist Mr Gamini Akmeemana
His article was published in IPS services. I picked up this news from Lacnet news letter when I was in Japan.
I am not blowing my own horn My wife and I gave them the initial hand , guide them the proper way, went to Mahavilachiciya during the war time (even before the CFA) nothing happened. It is safer than Colombo.
Now that small project had grown bigger and both of us look at it from a distance.
Next is my Sinhala project http://www.akuru.org this is for the every person who use the language Sinhala. Implementing my system I can create thousands of Mahavilachchiya’s in Sri Lanka.
I am guiding another one at Higurukaduwa. It is also at very initial stages. your help is welcome
If you guys really want to help, Please help the following person too
Mr Anada Weeerasena of Malabe Boys Modle School, Malabe
Email me if you need Mr Ananda’s phone number
Revantha if you have some resourses help Malabe.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Hi Donald,
Would glad to be of any help, let me know how i could proceed..
thx..
Dr. Livingstone,
Cancelling the GKP event was a very minute incident compared to what Prof Sam did to destroy Mahavilachchiya project in 2003. He got his buddies in CSSL to crush the future of the young men and women in that village by stopping all the funding opportunties using his evil plans. There are recorded voice cuts where Ugly, Bad Sam conspired aginst those in the jungle. No sooner than later Sam and his buddies will make Mahavilachchiya at the targt of mud slinging again. After being the President, Sam prevented even ICTA helping Mahavilachchiya many times but ICTA did its best to help the project in its capacity.
I too feel very sorry for those young people there and they will be dead silent to all these misdeeds as they are sacred to talk due to the pressure put by Sam and his buddies.
Prof Sam threatned all the journalists who wrote about MV project and even tried to cancel a TV program on MV sometime back. Sam comes and talks on TV about the importance of taking IT to the villages but when those kids are doing it in the jungles Prof Sam did his best to prevent them achieving success. If we didnt have a Sam in SL, MV would have become another Microsoft or Google by now. Unfortunately those people there are so fed up and the project is in great danger now.
Dr. Livingstone / EyesWideOpen,
I totally agree with you.
As Dr. Livingstone correctly puts it, Mahawilachchiya Horizon Lanka project has always been like chilli powder in the eyes of Grandpa Sam. Sam did everything possible to destroy it from its very inception.
I too have heard that Grandpa Sam had warned journalists not to write anything about this project saying Nanadasiri Wanninayake is a crook. Fortunately there were some journalists Grandpa Sam could not buy.
On the positive side, the extraordinary success of the project too was also due to the commitment of some other officers of ICTA.
Without any doubt, Manju Hattotuwa takes the lion’s share of the credit for helping the little kids in Mahawilachchiya and making this e-village what it is today. Actually Manju had gone out of the way to help this project. Since there was no funding he diverted funds from some other project. I am sure he made the right decision. I am also sure Manju today feel extremely proud of that decision.
It was Manju who gave Oxygen to this project; when Grandpa Sam was trying his best to strangle it and kill it prematurely.
Also Wanninayake and his little heroes, Isuru, Ruvini, Radhika, Majith and all were too smart for Grandpa Sam. They silently but bravely faced all barriers put in their way by the vicious old man.
Had you been at Hilton, the day these little heroes did their presentation at CSSL, when both the sound system and multimedia projector failed to work for some unknown reason, it would have brought tears to your eyes. It was on that day I realized Grandpa Sam could never stop these courageous little kids.
So finally Grandpa Sam had no option than admitting defeat. Now he is trying to kiss the hand that he could not cut.
Wanninayake, take my advice. In future you have to be very careful about this old ugly man full of jealousy. Be extremely careful. Here is a man full of venom ever ready to bite you.
To give credit where it is due, within ICTA so many others have worked towards making this project a success. Chitrangani and Maithri have definitely done a lot and I have heard Radley and Reshan too are now playing important roles in the mesh networking part. Sorry if I have missed anyone. I know there are many dedicated and hardworking officers at ICTA.
Recently a two storied Computer lab was opened at Mahawilachchiya and you can see some pictures taken at http://www.horizonlanka.com/news/opening_ceremony/speeches.htm
You will immediately observe the genuine smile in the face of Manju. He has every reason to be proud of the great work he has done by giving a helping hand to this project.
On the other hand, Grandpa Sam, conscious of the dirty work he did in the beginning, did not have guts to visit Mahawilachchiya. He had to send his so-called ‘congratulatory message’ through another officer!
I am sure the small kids in Mahawilachchiya will have learnt a lot from this firsthand experience. All the best to you kids. We want you to build the Infosys of Sri Lanka one day!
Do not let ugly old jealous men ever stop you in your path!
Manivatte Abhikkamma!
Dear Thoppi Velenda,
Not only this. Prof made sure those kids’ presentation (at CSSL 2003) come as the last item of the day so that it could get the least number of listners. Mess up in sounds and projectors was also a part of the drama. It is said that the children (presenters) were even refused the lunch on that day by the organizers at a time they threw out a huge amount of food after lunch!!!!!!!!!! The idea must have been to weaken the kids.
Prof had also asked the American IT guru who made the keynote speach at the event not to highlight Horizon anywhere else. But he still promotes Horizon all over the world.
If you go into details, it was during this event that prof maliciously threw out a paper which was submitted by contreversial Donald to do a presentation. So, Donald-VK grudge started here and poor children in Horizon were the casualties as Prof took the revenge from those innocent kids in Mahavilachya.
Wanni, do not be scared, there are thousands of people who love and respect you and the children. Come here and speack the truth yourself. Keep your head high. Mud slingers cannot harm you. You are not the little guy from the jungle. You are stronger than Tarzan boy.
As for the Manju’s part, this (Promoting Horizon) could be the only happiness Manju takes back home when he leaves next month. Manju, hats off to you. At least you have one feather in your hat. It’s a pity that the new ‘owners’ of ICTA (Prof Sam n the Clan) will cut off all the help to the jungle.
Wanni, better get an insurance coverage yourself!!!!!! Prof has Sam Sung (korean) money to hire underworld thugs.
I think dealing with SAMSUNG will make SAM-SUNG!!! (Sam ivarai) :-)
Sorry Sam, could not help the pun!
More, more and more (from Dharamsala meeting on WiFi)
Quote”"it was during this event that prof maliciously threw out a paper which was submitted by contreversial Donald to do a presentation. So, Donald-VK grudge started here and poor”"unquote
I presented a paper for 22nd National Information Technology Conferance = held 3-4 July 2003 at Colombo Plaza (today – Cinnamon)
My paper was rejected but Mr Dimuth Abeysuriya invited me to a public lecture at the university.
I was the first person to tell the public in Sri Lanka that complete Characters has to be used in a computer.
Now I will quote something
All quoted by “Proceedings of the 22nd National IT Conferance Colombo Sri Lanka” ISBN 955-9155-11-3
Topic “The Reality of Digital Government By Prof V K Samaranayake”
Page 5, section 4.1 Issue
….. Need to use National Languages…
….. Need for Litracy aand languages Skills
Page 7 Section 4.2
Content
- Use of Local languages
…… Although UNICODE standards have been available for both languages since 1998, there are many more problems to be solved
This remark by professor himself proves that sinhala unicode is incorrect and incomplete.
I will copy the same text into the myths too
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Donald and others, please keep discussion on Sinhala unicodes, fonts, etc in the one thread where it is being discussed. Kindly do not proliferate same topic in different threads. Thanks for your cooperation.
Divakar
All,
Do not make CSSL the scapegoat for what Prof Sam did. Only less than 10 ppl approved prof’s dirty deeds. Rest of the CSSL crowd still supports the kids from Mahavilacciya. Those days prof was too powerful in CSSL and we couldn’t raise our voice. Children, we are with you. Let’s hope MESH works well with you guys.
Quote
prof was too powerful in CSSL and we couldn’t raise our voice.
unquote
This proves that you guys are lacking a back bone.
In a democratic country 90% is scared of the DIno
Unable to voice and tell the truth for the betterment of the country
This shows the lack of resposibility.
Most beauty of it is you publish to the world your own ingenuity without any shame.
Out of your group I respect Dimuth.
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo
Hoping to bring the discussion back to wireless networking, I would encourage the participants to look at the recently posted research paper on WiFi in Indonesia: http://www.lirneasia.net/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/Indonesian Wi-Fi Study 1.2.pdf
Another related article is at http://www.lirneasia.net/2006/02/wireless-and-development/
The basic argument here is that wireless cannot be dropped in without the policy and regulatory prenditions being satisfied.
In summary, if the policymakers and regulators can
1. Create the conditions for build out of backbone networks so that reasonably priced leased lines are available throughout the country, and
2. Enable users and ISPs to build their own access networks using WiFi,
the problems of Mahavilachchiya will be solved.
Continuing back on the wireless situ at Mahavilachchiya, like I outline on one of my earlier post, TRC has allocated the 2.4Ghz ISM band to couple of ISP and a cable TV operator in the country (please correct me if I am wrong), this was long before the ISM terminology was adopted and the frequency allocation was done by the respective standards institutes. I do not fault TRC for doing this at that point of time cos there was a request and they simple heeded for that without anticipating the future events that would take place in the wireless spectrum.. any way now that’s history….
So now I believe it’s an uphill battle for the TRC to free the 2.4Ghz ISM for the general public after all the said companies had been paying for it all this while and their services could affected…. I would say it would be a multi dimensional approach together with the necessary government support the TRC must muster in order to find a long lasting solution for this issue . I am not too sure what the thinking pattern of the TRC in this matter but perhaps Prof.Samarjeewa could enlighten us as to what avenues the TRC is looking in the resolving this ISM band issue, cos I’ve heard that TRC was looking to free up the 2.4Ghz ISM band for a once off cost (said to be a very nominal fee).. any ways if Prof.Samarajeewa could provide his arguments on this it would be appreciated…
Well coming back to MV… and the masterpiece : Wireless Mesh Networking Project it is quite evident that ICTA and the project implementor put forward the project proposal and got cracking on the project without knowing the rules of the game by enlarge the TRC’s goldern act. Any way since the project has been initiated (though progress has been limited in providing a tangible benefit to the community at large). Let me put it in a simplified manner oh how if the project could be got off the ground had the necessary think tanks being a bit innovative..
So let me start : the 2.4 GHz ISM band at this point of time is the baby of couples of selected ISP plus a cable TV operator… their service lines are more or less in and around Colombo and greater Colombo areas mostly but hardly the respective major service lines touch base at MV except the case of one ISP.. So for example if a techy in MV wants to setup a wireless access network between the Horizon Lanka foundation and his home, he could contact the one of the ISP’s (who have access right to the frequency) and get the job done.. the infrastructure is owned by the ISP, the techy probably pay an agreed monthly payment for the service.. TRC cannot find any fault cos the installation as done by an ISP who has a legitimate right of using the frequency band..is’nt it quite simple… I am no expert on the TRC act and the legal frame work which surrounds it but please let me know if my argument is wrong or it needs any tinkering..
I am not too sure in the case of the MV Wireless mesh Networking Projects if the above model was given any thought.. it is quite evident that the chosen systems integrator was trying to have the cake all by his self (or should I say herself ) without actually looking at the bigger picture.. If you don’t own the damn frequency you cant do the darn job and you cant put the icing on the Air.. no amount of pestering the TRC will get the job done…so why not work with an entity who already have access to the frequency and get the job completed… unless you have any other hidden agendas…:0 and probably agreeing on the modalities of the sustainability of the project and building the capacity at MV to maintain the project and hand them over the total ownership of the project say after 1 year down the line….( if this path had been already looked at, please elaborate)
As for Horizon lanka paying for the frequency that’s a Joke my friends. These guys are running on donor money and in dire straits of getting the required funding for carrying of the much needed educational programs for the kids…hence I am sure that the donors too would not like the money spending on a frequency allocation for which they have no interest on.
Also the project was a brain child of the ICTA and ICTA should be paying for the frequency charge if that’s the way forward .. not Horizon lanka ( I am not a spoke person for Horizon Lanka but simply airing my thoughts…), even the bus which was operating between Anuradhapura and MV to get kids ( 50 odd) from the Anu’pura was stopped too, cos the budgetary allocation was not enough to continue the transport services……
So Horizon paying for the frequency … Are we looking at the Correct Picture if at all if the project gets off the ground (for which I have my doubts)…. Over to you folks.
thx.
Can anyone update me on the progress of this Mesh networking project?
Has it moved forward after the discussion here or still at the same point?
Last I heard was that it would be completed by August/2006, perhaps RW could provide us with an update.
It is pathetic how some people in Colombo take the poor village kids for a ride.
The information of this project is available at http://www.apdip.net/projects/ictrnd/2004/L43-lk
It says the following,
Community Mesh Network for Mahavilachchiya, Sri LankaDocument Actions Grant awarded in November 2004 to Information and Communication Technology Agency, Sri Lanka to develop a low-cost wireless broadband architecture for providing high-speed Internet access services in Mahavilachchiya.
Project Title:
Community Mesh Network for Mahavilachchiya, Sri Lanka
Recipient Institution:
Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka
Project Leader:
Manju Haththotuwa, CEO/Managing Director
Amount and Duration: US$ 27,656 / 18 months
Commencement Date:
December 2004
Abstract of Project
Internet access is largely perceived as a way to reduce isolation, provide educational and economic opportunities, and ultimately improve the quality of life. Unfortunately, high capital and operating costs have limited rural access to a handful of heavily subsidized and supported demonstration projects in Sri Lanka. An innovative integrated strategy, based on existing technology and rural social structures, could address a variety of barriers and ultimately help get large numbers of villagers on the Internet.
Mahavilachchiya is a part of the rural sector of Sri Lanka that still remains largely unconnected to the Web. Even though there is a high density of computers in the village, they do not have internet access nor are they connected to each other.
However according to Revantha, this project had hardly commenced. Almost nothing had been done since Dec 2004. That was nearly one and half years ago.
The company that has undertaken the implementation of this project is ETPL and as far as I know they have also bid for the implementation of LGN project that involves setting up an island wide computer network connection the DS offices.
My question is how can a company which is not even capable of implementing a simple mesh network implement and maintain an island wide WAN?
ICTA should consider this fact before awarding the tender for LGN.
Continueing in the same lines on what Plum Pudding elaborated Quote “Mahavilachchiya is a part of the rural sector of Sri Lanka that still remains largely unconnected to the Web. Even though there is a high density of computers in the village, they do not have internet access nor are they connected to each other.” Unquote
You hardly get a decent mobile signal in MV, teleco providers in Colombo go very hyper on CDMA but you hardly get a decent CDMA coverage in MV. The 2 or 3 CDMA connections I saw were useing external antennas (The likes we use for TV reception) to get across the CDMA connectivity but there is congesstion when ever you try to ring up an outbound number.
While I was at the Horoizon lanka Foundation I saw villagers carrying across mobile handset and comeing near to the LankaCOm’s 120feet high tower errected (for getting across internet connectivity) at the Horizon Foundation which also host a Dialog GSM mini antenna to get a decent signal and make an outbound call, even at 10.30pm this trend continued.
Well overoll it’s quite sad how most of the service providers tend focus only on Colombo and the surburbs and forget about the rest of the country (specially the rural areas)… perhaps they are interested in covering their short term targets and keeping to the budgeted figures accordingly rather than provideing a service to the country at large…I believe this trend would continue in the Sri Lankan telecom/ISP sector in years to come cos no matter how big investments are made in advaceing the infrastructure for fancy services only affordable to a specific class.. it’s more or less the fancy media coverage the service providers are after…
thx..
Quote
comeing near to the LankaCOm’s 120feet high tower errected
uquote
This tower belongs to Horizon. Horizon had to find the funds for the tower.
With lots of difficulty Horizon collected funds for this tower.
If Mobitel or Lanka Bell use this tower facility to give mahavilachchiya area a proper connection it will cover a radius of 30 Km. But because of thick vegitation around this area the coverage may be reduce to 10 -12 Km.
Lanka Bell why not give it a try. So the people will be “kurukuruless”
Donald Gaminitillake
Colombo