This document discusses community networks as an alternative paradigm for developing network infrastructures and services. It provides 3 key points: 1) Community networks are based on a common pool resource model where network infrastructure is built and managed by volunteers in a community as a shared resource, rather than by traditional network providers. 2) Successful community networks like guifi.net in Spain and AWMN in Greece have thousands of nodes and provide services like data sharing, communication tools, and entertainment through their open networks. 3) Community networks require management tools to map the network, monitor usage, coordinate funding and configure devices, as well as economic models where costs are offset through user fees, sponsors, and turning networks into social enterprises

1. COMMUNITY NETWORKS: An Alternative
Paradigm for Developing Network Infrastructures and Services
Adisorn Lertsinsrubtavee
Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge

2. PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
PROVIDER
NETWORK
PROVIDER
COMMON POOL
RESOURCE (CPR)
SP - Service Provider CS - Community Service
Conventional
Data Network
Community
Network
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COMMUNITY NETWORKS: COMMON POOL RESOURCE MODEL
SP SP CSSP CS
The components of a
broadband network
SPSPSP

3. COMMUNITY
NETWORK
Infrastructure Economic Model
Community
Services
Management
Tools
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‣ Managing the network
infrastructure.
‣ The tools usually
developed by the
member of the CNs
‣ Local service/application
developed by the
member of community
‣ Some CNs can survive
without Internet
‣ Sustainability
‣ Revenue vs Expenditure
‣ Crowdfunding
‣ Low-cost equipment and
easy to deploy
COMMUNITY NETWORKS: COMMON COMPONENTS

4. Established in 2004 in rural area of
Catalan district
guifi is the largest community
network in the world
Established in 2002 in Athens
AWMN is the largest and more diverse
Community Wireless Network in
Greece
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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CNS
TakNet
Established in 2012 in rural village of
Tak province
The 1st CN in Thailand

5. 5
INFRASTRUCTURE
Scale Routing Backbone Internet Access
2100 nodes
OLSR, BGP,
OSPF
WiFi, Cable
Some members share their
private Internet connection to
the public.
32,792 nodes 33,304
WiFi links (~60,000
km)
BMX6,
BGP
WiFi, Cable
IXP
Three uplink carriers (10
Gbps, 1 Gbps and 300 Mbps )
65 nodes in 3 villages OLSR
TVWS (on
going)
One ADSL/Fiber per village
(10 - 20 Mbps)TakNet

6. 6
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Data Exchange Services: P2P
file sharing and FTP servers,
Communication: VoIP telephony,
community forums, mail service,
instant messaging
Entertainment: radio stations,
vdo streaming,Game servers
Information and Education: e-learning,
local search engine (native language)

7. 7
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Mapping tool: An online database of nodes combines with geographical map
and status of nodes.
Network monitoring: A tool to assess the status of the network, visualize
usage and identify network problem (i.e., congestion)

8. 8
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Online crowd-funding system :
Coordinate the collection of
money to fund new
deployment and upgrading
Status of contributions

9. 9
Device configuration: A tool to automate the configuration of
network devices.
Authentication & Logging system: User login and Measure
amount of traffic consumed by each user
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Guifi oneclick
TakNet authentication

10. ‣ Responsible for regulating the interactions
between network deployment and
operation
‣ The initiators of the project who are
responsible for the operation tools and
deployments
Network and
Service
Infrastructure
Volunteers
Association
Crowd-funding
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ECONOMIC MODEL

11. ‣ Responsible for regulating the interactions
between network deployment and
operation
‣ Community License (FONN)
‣ The initiators of the project who
are responsible for the
operation tools and
deployments
‣ Customer of Professionals group
‣ Customer’s devices can be part of CPR
‣ Customers can devote themselves as
volunteers
‣ Professionals are from business sector (e.g., ISPs,
Service Providers)
‣ Professionals must state the level of commitments
and contributions
‣ Professionals can benefit from infrastructure for
their business (e.g., whole sale Internet access,
Local Internet Registry, Internet eXchange point)
Network and
Service
Infrastructure
Professionals
Customers
Volunteers
Association
Crowd-funding
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ECONOMIC MODEL

12. ‣ Three times cheaper than
commercial ISPs
‣ The Internet gateway cost
‣ Maintenance
‣ Equipment placement,
‣ Technical online support
‣ Network management and
monitoring.
‣ Students from THNG
camp
‣ Local villagers
TakNet
‣ TakNet turns to a social
enterprise called
Net2Home to connect more
villages.
‣ Responsible for regulating the interactions
between network deployment and
operation
‣ Register as social enterprise
‣ THNIC foundation
‣ Third parties (e.g., CSR,
University, NGOs)
Network and
Service
Infrastructure
Users
Volunteers
Net2Home
Sponsors
Monthly fee
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ECONOMIC MODEL

13. DON’T BUY THE NETWORK,
BE THE NETWORK
TakNet
Thank You !
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