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Webinar Regarding AIR.U's Efforts to Bring Super Wi-Fi Networks to Underserved

Campuses and Communities

Aug 16, 2012

Declaration

Networks Group, LLC

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Broadband is the common platform for knowledge exchange

Networks

DevicesUsers

Applications

Broadband Ecosystem

Improvements in each element of the ecosystem drive improvements in others in a Virtuous Cycle

In a knowledge-based economy, we should seek to eliminate bandwidth as a constraint to innovation, productivity and leadership

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But we are unlikely to get the upgrade necessary

Basic Math for an Upgrade

For the first time since the beginning of the commercial internet, there are no plans for a national wired provider to build a faster network than the leading network.

Instead of upgrades, incumbents are talking about data caps and other ways to restrict use

Dial-Up

Cable BB

Telco DSL

2G Cable BB

FIOS, UVerse

DOCSIS 3.0

Time

Telco Plans

Speed

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C + O > (1-r)R + SB + (-CL)

For the investor in the network, the equation currently looks like this:

The returns do not justify the investment

Costs Benefits

C: Capital ExpendituresO: Operating Expendituresr: RiskR: RevenuesSB: System Benefits (Benefits that drive increased revenues outside the

communities where the new or incremental investments are made)CL: Losses due to competition

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The path forward: change the math

But how do we do that?

C + O < (1-r)R + SB + (-CL)

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AIR.UConsortium of Higher Education Groups, Microsoft and Google Launch

Program to Deploy Big Bandwidth to Underserved College Communities , April 26th, 2012

Develop near term opportunities to broadly deploy White Space technologies within rural Colleges, Universities and their communities

Establish a roadmap for the rapid deployment of sustainable, next generation wireless networks – beginning now with Pilot planning phase

Create partnerships that provide access to available resources that enable adequate funding and sustainable commercial business models

Declaration

Networks Group, LLC

“I find last month’s announcement of the AIR U initiative very exciting, because we all recognize the fact that universities that are located in certain rural areas, are struggling to find access to affordable broadband networks. By employing unlicensed TV White Space services, the AIR U initiative can offer a low-cost means to provide these universities with increased coverage and capacity”- FCC Commissioner Clyburn , July 2012 FCC Open Meeting

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New Beachfront Spectrum is Available Unassigned TV Channels freed as a result of the FCC transition to Digital TV Channels vary by market, with large amounts of spectrum in small/mid-size cities and rural communities. Now available on an unlicensed basis (like WiFi) & intended for broadband applications “Super WiFi”: Much lower frequency (than current WiFi) provides for:

Signal coverage over far larger areas (up to 5 km vs. 100 meters for WiFi) Signals penetrate or bend around obstacles (trees, buildings, hills) far better than higher frequencies

(like broadcast TV) An ideal, inexpensive, ‘last mile’ solution – adding coverage and capacity where fiber is not close by.

54 88 174

216470

698

512

614

608

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Lower VHF Upper VHF UHF

Public Safety

Wireless Mics

RA

Fixed TVWS DevicesPortable/Personal

TVWS Devices

7672

TV ch2-4

TV ch 7-13 TV ch 21-365-6TV ch 14-20

TV ch 38-51

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Relative Bandwidth Allocation

White

Spac

e Total

2.4 GHz ISM

900 MHz IS

M

700 MHz

PCS

Cellular

AWS

0

40

80

120

Bandwidth Allocation by Service

MH

Z pe

r PO

P

Wi-Fi – its impact after 10 years

2002 •Wi-Fi alliance founded 2012 •439 million homes using a Wi-Fi router 2016 •800 million homes projected to deploy Wi-Fi •Currently 25% of all households worldwide use Wi-Fi •85% penetration in homes with fixed broadband

By making fixed broadband more valuable, Wi-Fi: •generates $46 to $87 billion of consumer surplus each year. •maintains 49 to 101 million fixed broadband subscriptions around the world.

Source: Strategy Analytics

Source: Spectrum Bridge

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TV White Space Trial Deployments

“Smart Grid” Network Deployment – Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Co-Op, CA

Rural Broadband: Nation’s first TVWS network – Claudville, VA

Super WiFi Network Deployment – Cambridge, England – In UK, 1-year trial: variety of uses cases by consortium 14 companies (Microsoft, BT, BBC), Adaptrum, Neul, Nokia, etc) and 2 networks in Finland by Spectrum Bridge

“Smart City” Network Deployment– Wilmington, NCPartnership with city and Public Safety entities

Tribal and Public Safety Remote Area Deployment – Yurok Reservation, Arcata, CA

Telemedicine Applications – hospital campus – Logan, OH

Currently operational TVWS trial deployments supported by Spectrum Bridge, Microsoft, Google and other companies.

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Applications & Services

~5 Miles

Community-Wide Super Wi-Fi

Smart City Applications

Residential Broadband

Wireless Broadband Mobile & Fixed (Last

Mile) Wireless Residential

Multi-Media Networking Wireless Backhaul Video ‘Broadcasting’

Machine-to-Machine Remote Sensing and

Monitoring Asset Tracking Mobile Video

Surveillance

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Super Wi-Fi Eco-System is Now Forming

Sept 2010: FCC Final Rulemaking approved unlicensed use of white space frequencies

Feb 2012- Congress passes bill securing TV Bands for Unlicensed use

US Market Stage Is Set Legislation is in place Standards Based

Equipment Vendors Are Announcing Production Schedules

DB Administrators have been FCC Certified

Addressable Markets & Applications

Today Dec ‘13Dec ‘12

Nomadic/ Fixed Applications

Fully Mobile

Pre-Production/ Limited Qtys Begin Production Unit Availability

Equipment Configurations

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AIR.U ObjectiveHigher Ed Communities represent an environment well suited for Super Wi-Fi innovation

√ Higher than average Bandwidth Requirements (Increasing)

√ Lower than average Bandwidth Alternatives (Static)

√ Fewer than average Broadcasters resulting in Higher than average White Space

AIR.U (Advanced Internet Regions)

• Establish a path to self-sustaining, commercial operations that will offer Super Wi-

Fi services broadly to college and university communities

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Community Opportunity

Case Study: Middlebury CollegeAvailable TVWS Spectrum• Fixed Channels = 23• 23/3 = 7.6 Channels/ cell (round down to 7)

Cell Capacity• Avg Capacity/ Cell: 70Mbps

(7x10Mgbps/Channel)• Monthly Average Cell Capacity =

70e6*3600*24*30/8 = 22,680 GB

Example Network Capacity• Capacity Plan

– 100% Population Coverage @ 10GB/month

• Population Coverage: – Campus: 2,500*10 GB / 22,680 GB = 2

cells– Surrounding Town: 8,500*10 GB /

22,680 GB = 4 cells

Organizing Available Resources to:

Reduce Capex

Reduce Opex

Reduce Risk

Increase Revenues

is the key to Unlocking Benefits

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Organizing Resources

Identify Available Resources and Coordinated Support• Reduce Capex

– Access to Antenna Sites (i.e. ROWs, Tower and Rooftops)

• Reduce Opex– Access to Telecom Facilities (i.e. Middle Mile Fiber, Backhaul, Internet)

• Reduce Risk– Organize Demand (i.e. Students, Faculty, Municipality, Affiliated Enterprises)

– Standardized Network, Deployment and Customer Support functions

• Increase Revenues– Introduce new low cost broadband services

– Coordinated Marketing to Accelerate Adoption

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Expressions of Interest

To submit interest for pilot consideration:

http://bit.ly/AIRUInterest

Powerpoint and link to this form will also be emailed