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Kiribati – Case study of connecting the un-connectible

Simon Lardner

…..specialist telecommunications solutions provider

Background to Challenge Networks• A systems integrator that specifically

builds ‘Telecom networks’– PSTN, data & mobile

• Has partnerships with several Tier 1 telecoms vendors.

• Focuses on smaller networks (less then 1-2 million Subscribers).

• Has built ‘turn key’ networks in more than 15 countries around the world.

• Experienced in rugged and remote locations.

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Kiribati Islands ?

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Kiribati Islands

• 100k people with 32 islands

• Main island of Tarawa has 30k people

• 2nd largest island Kiritimati (Christmas) with 12k

• 60% of population live on 20 other inhabited islands with populations 500-6k people

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…..specialist telecommunications solutions provider

…..specialist telecommunications solutions provider

Assumptions of traditional mobile Architecture

High population & high population density

Wealthy population

Good, cheap, high quality backhaul

Lots of locations for Interconnect & content

exchange

Electrical power is easy to get at end points

Mountains to put sites on

Traffic load relatively stable & known locations

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Problems with a Kiribati mobile network..

Almost none of the requirements for a traditional mobile network apply……

Satellite only international backhaul Low ARPU Flat terrain Vendors have tried in the past with traditional

mobile architecture and have been a spectacular failure……….

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Continuum of markets fitting the traditional mobile model

EuropeanCommercial

operator

USA Commercial

operator

Kiribati

‘Perfect’ ‘Terrible’

PNG commercial

operator

AustralianCommercial

operator

Public safety mobile

network

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CN Design Aims• Economically rollout 3G to all 22 islands• Network performance equal on all islands• Co-locate with LTE where appropriate• Maximum of 1 satellite hop for 95% of voice

traffic case and 100% of data.• Reduce OPEX such operator can offer cheapest

telecommunications service in Pacific Islands• 10+ year life cycle

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Traditional Mobile architecture

BSC/RNC

Layer 1(Base Station)

Layer 2(Controller)

Layer 3(Core Network)

BTSBTS

BTS

BTSBTS

BTS

GGSNSGSN

HLR

MGw

MSC

Traditional Carrier Network

All traffic traverses core

single control point

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12

Kiribati Mobile Architecture

Distributed “Flat” Architecture – Intelligence at the network edge

HLR/VLRSMSCSGSNMSCBSCBTS

HLR/VLRSMSCSGSNMSCBSCBTS

HLR/VLRSMSCSGSNMSCBSCBTS

IP Cloud

Distributed SolutionDistributed Network Solution

•Every base station site has a complete core – billing, EPC, IMS, etc

•Scales down to a single BTS

• Able to provide high reliability at a BTS level

• Mesh architecture

•Enables some quite clever network solutions

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Example – traditional network

Other Remote islands

Tarawa

International Interconnect

Xmas Island

Double satellite hop (terrible call quality)

Core network

Satellite capacity used (huge cost)Unreliable (satellite link critical)

Local call on remote island

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Example – traditional network

Other Remote islands

Tarawa

International Interconnect

Xmas Island

Core network

TarawaDouble satellite hop (terrible quality)2 x optimal Satellite capacity used (cost) Unreliable (2 x satellite links)

International call/data

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New Distributed architecture

Other Remote islands

Xmas Island

Tarawa

Go back to what we cannot change – where islands are & basic RF requirements

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New Distributed architecture

Other Remote islands

Xmas Island

Tarawa

Remove the centralised core and distribute to each BTS

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New Distributed architecture

Other Remote islands

Xmas Island

Tarawa

International Interconnect

Move the data/voice interconnect to the network centre

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New Distributed architecture

Other Remote islands

Xmas Island

Tarawa

International Interconnect

No satellite hop (quality improvement)

Local call

No satellite hop (cost saving)No satellite hop (reliability)

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New Distributed architecture

Other Remote islands

Xmas Island

Tarawa

International Interconnect

Single satellite hop (quality improvement)Single satellite hop (cost saving)Single satellite hop (reliability)

International call/data

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Key featuresOnly way of implementing LTE eNodeB over

satelliteReduction in required satellite bandwidth makes

overall solution economically viable.Enables ‘clever stuff’

Advanced local data cachingLocal switchingHigher reliabilityOptimised routing

Saves lives and changes societyNot the solution for every application

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Takeaways With a modest investment & some ingenuity Kiribati have created what is perhaps one of the most advanced mobile network in the world. Traditional technology approaches are often completely wrong Some insight into what is likely to be part of ‘5G’. Potentially great for ‘non traditional’ applications – Public safety, rural coverage, etc.

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…..specialist telecommunications solutions provider