News
Issue #2002 - 10 (March 2002)
(Updated Mar. 13, 2002)

TECHNOLOGY

MeshNetworks' Mobile Technology Fosters Peer-to-Peer Wireless Networking
Source: Network World 

MAITLAND, FLA. - MeshNetworks has created a mobile network that does not need the cumbersome infrastructure associated with today's cellular networks. 

Instead, the company has enabled its mobile communication devices to act as peer-to-peer routers and repeaters. In contrast, cellular devices communicate with a central controller that requires a number of cell sites to ensure wireless coverage. 

Mesh says its method lets devices - PDA, laptop, wireless handset and others - be a part of the network rather than draining the network of radio frequency resources. The company says its technology can provide non-line-of-sight broadband connectivity to increase network performance. In addition,network intelligence is housed in each device rather than in the base station controller, the method of cellular networks. 

The company says the cost to deploy this technology is one-tenth that of a comparable cellular network infrastructure. Operators no longer need to deploy base stations, cell towers and base station controllers, Mesh says. Instead, subscribers subsidize the cost of deployment by purchase ing devices enabled with this technology via a PC card. Mesh says the cost of enabled handsets will be only slightly more than current handsets. 

Each device enabled with this technology theoretically can act as a router "hop" for any other device on the network to communicate or reach network access points. Even if one or more devices are turned off or there is network congestion, traffic is automatically routed to another path,just as in a router network. This "self-balancing" capability is unique to Mesh's proprietary mobile network, the vendor says. Also, as more devices are turned on, Mesh says, throughput, resiliency and capacity are increased. 

Subscriber devices become part of the Mesh infrastructure via the company's Transceiver module/modem. Each module/modem uses a proprietary transceiver technology in the form of a PC Card/ CompactFlash modem, MeshNetworks chipset or a software license that runs on each device. The module/modem is what provides access to the network and lets devices act as routers and repeaters for other subscribers. 

A second piece to Mesh's product is the Wireless Router, a shoebox- sized device that is deployed primarily in geographically large areas to provide coverage. Usually mounted atop light poles, they also can be mounted on police cars, garbage trucks or other commercial vehicles. 

Mesh also has created the Intelligent Access Point (IAP), another shoebox-sized device that acts as a transition point from the wireless network to the Internet and public switched telephone network. Each IAP can support up to 18M bit/sec of voice, video and data.These devices typically are attached atop buildings. 

The final portion of this platform is the Mobile internet Switching Controller that connects the IAPs to wired networks. Made from off-the-shelf gear such as packet gateways and routers, voice- over-IP gateways and softswitches, and network servers, it enables authentication, authorization and accounting, and billing capabilities. 

All products run Mesh's proprietary peerto-peer mobile routing protocol. The devices discover and share routing information, and reconfigure routes when a device is added or subtracted from the network. 

Craig Mathias, principal analyst at Farpoint Group, says Mesh's idea is not a far stretch from the wireless networks that have been around since the 1940s. 

Mathias says the key benefit of Mesh's system is its lack of infrastructure. 

"You no longer need to deploy numerous cells to act as a bridge between the wireless and the wired world," he says. "With this approach, you can deploy fewer cells and you can deploy them where it's convenient, including on trucks." 

Mathias also points out that deployment hassles are all but removed because permission is not needed to build cell towers and interconnection sites. 

However, a mobile meshed network isn't without its problems, Mathias says. 

"The operator's cost per user is lower, but the user's cost per handset is a bit higher,"he says. "The other downside is getting enough nodes out there to make this thing work. Mesh has attempted to solve that problem by creating both moving and fixed nodes." 

Mathias also points out that current cell phones will not work with this type of network, nor will Mesh-enabled phones work with today's cellular networks. 

"There is a potential for multimode phones to be developed:' he says."But that is a way off." 

While there are no direct competitors to Mesh's IP-modeled network,other mobile IP wireless equipment vendors include Ericsson, Nokia and Motorola, and smaller companies such as WaterCove Networks, Avian Communications and Tahoe Networks. 

Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission granted Mesh an experimental license to demonstrate its mobile network nationally in the 2.4GHz and the 5.7GHz bands. Demonstrations are being conducted in the Orlando and Maitland area; Washington, D.C.; Denver; and Dallas-Fort Worth,Texas. The company says it has operated a network continuously since July in Maitland. 

Mobileinfo Comments & Advisory: Those watching the evolution of future generation of wireless networks should watch this closely. Not that mesh networks address all the issues but they deserve serious consideration. VCs and networki planning strategists should note that it will not be a uniform 3G world based on CDMA, UMTS or W-CDMA tomorrow. It is too early to call the wireless future. So look around and watch developments with open mind. Please do not repeat the mistakes of quick dip in the 3G ocean. The 3G sea is quite choppy still. You should know how to swim there but watch out there may be warm and steady currents elsewhere.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.