Page 142 - DCAP311_DCAP607_WIRELESS_NETWORKS

Wireless Networks

Notes Convergent Communications was selected for implementing the wireless solution as
they had executed most of the NIC’s projects in the past. After initial talks with Pravara
Group, NIC and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the project was kicked off
in 1999. It was executed in two phases. In Phase I, Convergent connected 13 sites using a
WMAN. Institutions were networked and connected to the Internet using a 64 Kbps VSAT
connection. During Phase II, the wireless solution was extended to six other remote sites—
Shirdi, Satral, Kolhar, Rahata, Babhleshwar and Loni. The remote sites use an 11 Mbps pipe
shared between six locations.

The project is expected to bring a host of benefits to the farming community. The villagers
can communicate with agricultural experts at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (a knowledge center
for farmers) and gain knowledge on better agriculture methods and storing and packing
their products. The wireless solution will also be useful in tele-medicine and keep abreast
with new government schemes.

Infrastructure blues
Arun Nale, System Administrator, Shirdi Sai Rural Institute, said, “There was no proper
telecom infrastructure. A leased line was not feasible as most of the electromechanical
exchanges did not support data transmission. Lack of proper roads created hurdles in
transportation of equipment during Phase I.
In addition to this, there was a hillock in Loni (Lontek) because of which there was no clear
Line of Sight (LOS) and the RF network required clear LOS.
The institutes like Pharmacy College, ITI and Home Science Institute were not connected.
The wireless RF towers were installed by Convergent in a record time of three days at ten
locations.”
Technically the range of the RF specified by Convergent was for a 5 km radius. Since this
proved insufficient for connecting faraway towns like Shirdi and Rahata that were 19 kms
from the hub, custom enclosures were designed to boost the range of the transmitters.
WLAN for WMAN

Chidambara, Consultant-Wireless & Education, Convergent Communications (India)
Pvt. Ltd., said, “The products which were available that time were typically used in a
WLAN solution. To make it work in a WMAN was a technical challenge. We developed
and manufactured certain products in-house in Bangalore like the accessories—antennas,
RF amplifiers, lightning arrestors, power dividers and weather-proof outdoor housing
enclosures. Lucent’s Wireless LAN bridges and wireless NICs were the core products that
were used in the implementation. The reason why we chose to implement WMAN was
because Pravaranagar does not have basic telephone infrastructure and getting a leased
line was not only difficult during those days but also expensive. With WMAN in place
Pravaranagar has dedicated 2 Mbps connectivity.”
People Behind the movement
PRAGATI began four years back. Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, Minister of Heavy Industries
Government of India and Dr. Y.K.Alagh, M.P & former Minister for Science & Technology,
Government of India, took a personal interest in the project. They visited ISRO to assess
the possibility of getting their interactive technology in 1999. Then they had a series of
discussions with then Director General, Dr. N.Seshagiri, of National Informatics Centre
(NIC), Delhi.
The final decision to assign the project to NIC was taken in June 1999. The target date for
the completion of Phase I was set as 15th August 1999 and it took six weeks to complete
this phase.
Contd...

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