Feasibility Study for Wimax for Rural Areas in Ghana
MASTER OF TELECOMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
THESIS TOPIC FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR WIMAX FOR RURAL AREAS IN GHANA
THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF TELECOMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
SYLVESTER AGYEN KWADWO NTIAMOAH-SARPONG
SUPERVISOR
HANS BRONS
FEBUARY 2011
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SUMMARY
The popularity of broadband Internet access services has increased significantly among the Ghanaian households during the past few years. At the same time, the development of wireless technologies has been rapid. While wired broadband technologies such as Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL), cable and fiber are well established in urban areas, the limitations of wired technologies impedes the roll-out of broadband in rural areas. As a result of these trends, Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) has been proposed as a possible competitor to other broadband access technologies, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) systems. Recently published technical standards from IEEE and ETSI are expected to improve the position of WiMAX networks as an alternative access technology. Certified interoperability, lower prices, nonline-of-sight capabilities, and customer-installable end-user terminals are hoped to fix the major problems of earlier generations of wireless access systems. The report will give a general technical understanding of WiMAX standards first, and discuss the technology and cost comparison among WiMAX and DSL, Wi-Fi and 3G. The aim of this comparison is to find out the advantage and economical feasibility of WiMAX service. The market analysis of WiMAX service is the main part of this report. In the thesis, a techno-economic analysis was carried out to determine the feasibility and competitiveness of IEEE 802.16a-based networks in providing broadband Internet access to Educational institutions, Small and Medium scale enterprise (SME) and residential customers. WiMAX is an emerging technology in Africa and there are many
THESIS TOPIC FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR WIMAX FOR RURAL AREAS IN GHANA
THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF TELECOMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
SYLVESTER AGYEN KWADWO NTIAMOAH-SARPONG
SUPERVISOR
HANS BRONS
FEBUARY 2011
[Type text]
Page i
SUMMARY
The popularity of broadband Internet access services has increased significantly among the Ghanaian households during the past few years. At the same time, the development of wireless technologies has been rapid. While wired broadband technologies such as Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL), cable and fiber are well established in urban areas, the limitations of wired technologies impedes the roll-out of broadband in rural areas. As a result of these trends, Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) has been proposed as a possible competitor to other broadband access technologies, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) systems. Recently published technical standards from IEEE and ETSI are expected to improve the position of WiMAX networks as an alternative access technology. Certified interoperability, lower prices, nonline-of-sight capabilities, and customer-installable end-user terminals are hoped to fix the major problems of earlier generations of wireless access systems. The report will give a general technical understanding of WiMAX standards first, and discuss the technology and cost comparison among WiMAX and DSL, Wi-Fi and 3G. The aim of this comparison is to find out the advantage and economical feasibility of WiMAX service. The market analysis of WiMAX service is the main part of this report. In the thesis, a techno-economic analysis was carried out to determine the feasibility and competitiveness of IEEE 802.16a-based networks in providing broadband Internet access to Educational institutions, Small and Medium scale enterprise (SME) and residential customers. WiMAX is an emerging technology in Africa and there are many
References: 1. Falch M. Sigurdsson H. J.-C., Million P.(2006) BROADBAND in Europe for All: A Multidisciplinary Approach, FP6-IST-507554 2. (OECD 2009)www.oecd.org/dataoecd/41/39/44381795.pdf, pp 8 http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2010/db0720/FCC-10129A1.pdf pp 8 3. (FCC 2010) ―Sixth Broadband Deployment Report” 4 90. Ibid 91. Ibid, p 61 92. Ibid 93. Ibid, p 64 94. SenzaFili, ―Compact base stations: a new step in the evolution of base station design‖, White paper, p 4, 2010. 95. Ibid, p 3 96. Ibid, p 5 97. Ibid, p 6 98. Ibid, p 7 [Type text]