[February 20, 2006]

Wi-Fi Mesh: Challenges and opportunities

(BNamericas.com Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Mobility and the increasing bandwidth offer are some of the many reasons why more and more companies and individual users are now preferring to use internet connections through wireless networks.

In Chile, for example, the number of hotspots grew to 678 in 2005 or by 21% compared to 561 in 2004, according to a new study from the digital economy center at the Santiago chamber of commerce (CCS).

WI-FI MESH

But the latest trend in wireless connectivity is the technology called Wi-Fi Mesh. "Wi-Fi Mesh networks are one of the best alternatives to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to large urban areas," Alfonso Mazzarelli, enterprise systems engineer at the Chilean unit of US networking equipment vendor Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) told BNamericas.

Wireless mesh shares internet connections from node to node instead of relying on a cable to connect each node to the head office. This gives the network a greater coverage area and involves cheaper infrastructure than other wireless broadband technologies such as Wi-Fi and Wireless Local Loop (WLL).

"The network is constantly worried about knowing which is the best and fastest way to traffic the information to the final destination by selecting the best road. For instance, if a user is sending information to the internet and the traffic is obstructed by any reason, the Wi-Fi Mesh network re-routes the information immediately and automatically through any other alternative road [access point] existent," Mazzarelli added.

Mesh technologies offer users the ability to "be mobile" within a determined area of coverage. For instance, within a mesh network a user would not lose connectivity when moving from one hotspot to another, since the access points in both hotspots would be constantly "talking" to offer continuous connectivity, according to Christopher Zanyk, general manager at the Chilean unit of Canadian equipment manufacturer Nortel Networks (NYSE: NT).

"Mesh can allow a fixed line operator to reach a new neighborhood or area without needing to install cables, which can often be expensive. With Mesh, they can offer telephony and internet reaching homes with wireless connections instead of the traditional way through cables," Zanyk added.

Other business opportunities for Wi-Fi Mesh networks are large corporations or public entities, such as a university or large public buildings.

"Mesh can also allow a WiMax provider to offer better quality service and better coverage in part of the area where it operates with the highest traffic, meaning it is one of the best solutions to handle high density areas," Zanyk added.

According to Natalia Vega, program manager at tech consultancy IDC Chile, most hotspots in Latin America are partially financed by ISPs, who share revenues with the company where they implement the network, such as restaurants or hotels.

"I believe the implementation of Wi-Fi Mesh would maintain this business model and also offer several other advantages such as IP telephony. The most commonly used wireless technology in Latin American hotspots is 802.11a and 802.11b, all of which would have to migrate to Wi-Fi Mesh," she told BNamericas.

Nortel estimates that wireless mesh could be 50-75% cheaper than installing traditional wireless LAN systems, because it eliminates 90% of the cabling requirements. Because of this, Mesh is expected to become the dominant wireless technology and surpass other contenders.

MESH CHALLENGES

During last year, news service Terra Chile conducted a study, called WarDriving, through a neighborhood in Santiago known for its high number of Wi-Fi networks. Terra drove around the area with an IT expert and managed to hack into several networks.

According to the study, 65.9% of Wi-Fi networks in the area are not secure, which is a problem mesh networks also face considering the constant connection between nodes. Even so, providers have released several technical documents claiming the security of these networks.

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