Multiple streaming at the network edge

Streaming video over the Internet, including cellular networks, has now become commonplace. Network operators typically use multicasting or variations of multiple unicasting to deliver streams to the user terminal in a controlled fashion. An emerging alternative is P2P streaming, which is theoretically more scalable but suffers from other issues arising from the dynamic nature of the system. User’s terminals become streaming nodes but these are not constantly connected. Another issue is that they are based on logical overlays, which are not optimized for the physical underlay infrastructure. An important proposition is that of finding effective ways to increase the resilience of the overlay whilst at the same time not conflicting with the network. In this article we look at the combination of two techniques, multi-streaming (redundancy) and locality (network efficiency) in the context of both live and video-on-demand streaming. We introduce a new technique and assess it via a comparative, simulation-based study. We find that redundancy affects network utilization only marginally if traffic is kept at the edges via localization technique

Is Online Copyright Enforcement Scalable?

This Article examines P2P file sharing and the copyright enforcement problem it has created through the lens of scalability. Part I traces the evolution of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks from Napster to BitTorrent, with a focus on the relative scalability of successive architectures. Part II takes up the difficult question of the scale of P2P infringement and its harms, examining the strategic number-crunching that underlies industry data on piracy, the government\u27s credulous acceptance of that data, and the risk of letting industry hyperbole drive copyright policy and law enforcement priorities. Part III evaluates the efficacy of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) as a policy mechanism for scaling up online copyright enforcement. I argue in Part III that the DMCA has proven to be remarkably scalable for enforcing copyrights in hosted content but has altogether failed to scale in the context of P2P file sharing, leading to the dysfunctional workaround of mass John Doe litigation. Part IV weighs the costs and benefits of more scalable alternatives to mass litigation, including a potential amendment of the DMCA\u27s pre-litigation subpoena provision and a pair of administrative dispute resolution systems-one hypothetical, the other real-for streamlining adjudication of P2P infringement claims

Neutral dark fibre operator in the city of Barcelona: Technical solution and business model

This thesis aims to study the technical and economic feasibility of developing an operator of dark fibre in the city of Barcelona to provide rental fibre services and room to telecom operators to offer high-speed connectivity services to optimally rolling out a civil infrastructure with the aim to transform operators high investment costs in operating expenses. Currently, the 22@Barcelona municipal company operates as a neutral dark fibre operator on a network that is rolled out in the area of PobleNou. This municipal network is used by several telecom operators to offer their services to businesses. Taking into account the success of this model, it is of interest to study the fit of a network of its kind in the rest of the city, so that citizens, businesses and entities can benefit from the advantages of such a network model. Taking into account the above, this thesis aims to build a technical solution and an economic model for the deployment of a fibre optic network in the city of Barcelona, managed as neutral dark fibre network. This project will seek to discover the main issues to be faced by the hypothetical neutral operator in developing a network of these characteristics. The business plan of this project consists of the following points: • Make a market study to determine the density of demand in the city (residential and business sector). • Based on this demand, study the civil infrastructure and technological solution needed to cover it, exploring all the possibilities that the city can offer (service galleries, sewers, Underground existing pipes, etc ...). • Dimension the optical fibre network needed, but also taking into account that this network can be used for self-provision services of the city (traffic lights, traffic cameras, street lights, wifi, etc.). • Develop a business model, which consists in developing a business plan and study the economic feasibility of the project. This business model has been made taking into account the existing regulatory framework for telecom networks operation by Public Administrations

Airborne Internet : market & opportunity

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-72).The purpose of this thesis to evaluate the opportunity for service provider entry and of the airborne internet, to analyze the disruptive impact technology used by AirCell and AeroSat has had on the development of an airborne internet, and to identify various stake holders and their value propitiation. The airborne internet has the potential to change the way we fly and spend time when sitting in the plane. In the last fifty years, there has not been much technological advancement in the air traffic control system. Airplane operation still depends on current ground control and radar systems that are very expensive and very difficult to scale. These technologies are also heavily dependant on humans. There have been many technological advancements out side of the aviation industry. Establishing an airborne internet is a tremendous opportunity for everyone. With the help of an airborne Internet, each plane can transmit its identity, location, and also direct video footage that will help Homeland security fight against terrorism. The airborne internet has the ability to connect airplanes not just via a computer on the ground (or via satellite) but directly with each other, relaying information from other planes in an Internet-like fashion. The airborne internet is strongly supported by the Pentagon, FAA and NASA. The U.S. Air Force and FAA are working on defining the architecture of an airborne network and hope to begin actively developing and testing the network itself between 2008 and 2012. According to the FAA, in 2005 there were 10 million flights carrying a total of 660 million passengers in the United States. For the FAA there are a number of merits to working with an airborne internet service provider to continue tests and validate the technical and economic feasibility of an airborne internet.(cont.) First, there appears to be a substantial market -- in the range of $1b -- for services that require internet connectivity on the air for the commercial airline, air cargo, business jet, and general aviation sector. Second, current alternatives such as satellite solutions and existing air-to-ground solutions fail to meet all the needs of the mass market. Satellite solutions provided by companies such as Inmarsat, Iridium, and Globalstar are priced at a premium and carry an expensive cost structure from the maintenance and investment in orbiting satellites. Airborne Internet service can be offered through three different technologies first, a satellite solution offered by Boeing; second, air-to-ground systems provided by companies such as AirCell; and third, a network of airplane ground -to - air system like AeroSat, all of which are compatible with the planned FAA architecture. Boeing's model is prohibitively expensive; a business model for an airborne internet solution based on a South West Airlines type low cost approach may make an airbome internet more feasible The model would rely on low service fees to promote greater consumer usage, high capacity utilization of ground stations to promote margins, low aircraft equipment costs to help cash flows, and risk/reward sharing with airlines to promote aircraft operator adoption. Assuming that a service provider relied on revenue from non-FAA related services, it could still generate ample margins to support other general FAA applications behind the scenes. The FAA can demonstrate overall support for an airborne internet vision, help attract key players to the ecosystem needed to implement the system, promote usage, and drive required airline ROI. The FAA could also drive the implementation of industry standards required to eventually ensure globally consistent services.(cont.) However, even with these clear benefits, there are a few key risks that need to be considered and further evaluated. First, this analysis evaluated the economic feasibility of an airborne internet. It does not take into consideration testing or validating the potential network performance from AeroSat's innovative mesh approach in an actual pilot test. Second, more extensive demonstrations will be required to further validate performance and the related cost for the supporting infrastructure. Some key economics like the number of antennae required on aircraft as the network grows should be explored in greater detail after initial simulations. Finally, uncertainty over potential developments of spectrum-free solutions, evolutes of ultra-wideband with potentially disruptive cost structures, could slow the market from adopting a spectrum-based solution. Although this is unlikely given the FAA's current stance on the use of UWB, the issue is worth further research and conversations with the FAA. Accordingly, continued testing, development, and analysis to test feasibility and clarify the key unknowns is recommended. There are a few areas that deserve special attention. First, the target customer composition required to drive the business model should be finalized. The reliability and performance of the mesh-approach is partly dependent on the density of airtraffic in relation to the location of installed ground stations. Second, spectrum requirement issues, including the cost of acquisition and regulatory compliance, need clarification as they strongly impact the business model. Third, the potential magnitude and variability of assumed revenue sources, as well as the timing of cash collections across key customer segments, should be explored.(cont.) Both of these impact the assumed free-cash-flows generated by the potential business model. Finally the potential terms of airline risk/reward sharing contracts required to equip aircraft with different quantities and types of antennae, need further exploration. Air carriers seem to be moving away from models where they absorb all of the equipment/certification costs - the economic feasiblity of a potential service provider depend on the service provider's ability to offer airlines this service at a reasonably good rate.by Anand Bhadouria.S.M

Neutral dark fibre operator in the city of Barcelona: Technical solution and business model

This thesis aims to study the technical and economic feasibility of developing an operator of dark fibre in the city of Barcelona to provide rental fibre services and room to telecom operators to offer high-speed connectivity services to optimally rolling out a civil infrastructure with the aim to transform operators high investment costs in operating expenses. Currently, the 22@Barcelona municipal company operates as a neutral dark fibre operator on a network that is rolled out in the area of PobleNou. This municipal network is used by several telecom operators to offer their services to businesses. Taking into account the success of this model, it is of interest to study the fit of a network of its kind in the rest of the city, so that citizens, businesses and entities can benefit from the advantages of such a network model. Taking into account the above, this thesis aims to build a technical solution and an economic model for the deployment of a fibre optic network in the city of Barcelona, managed as neutral dark fibre network. This project will seek to discover the main issues to be faced by the hypothetical neutral operator in developing a network of these characteristics. The business plan of this project consists of the following points: • Make a market study to determine the density of demand in the city (residential and business sector). • Based on this demand, study the civil infrastructure and technological solution needed to cover it, exploring all the possibilities that the city can offer (service galleries, sewers, Underground existing pipes, etc ...). • Dimension the optical fibre network needed, but also taking into account that this network can be used for self-provision services of the city (traffic lights, traffic cameras, street lights, wifi, etc.). • Develop a business model, which consists in developing a business plan and study the economic feasibility of the project. This business model has been made taking into account the existing regulatory framework for telecom networks operation by Public Administrations

Creating Effective Broadband Network Regulation

The Internet is central to the business and pastimes of Americans. Calls for increased regulation are ongoing, inevitable, and often justified. But calls for network neutrality or nondiscrimination assume with little hesitation federal agency competence to give predictable and accurate meaning to these terms and create regulations to implement them. This Article\u27s chief contribution to Internet policy debate is to focus attention on the likelihood of successful FCC Internet regulation-a key assumption of some advocates. The Article analyzes three characteristics that hobble the FCC, which is the likeliest federal agency to provide prescriptive rules. First, the record for the agency on a host of industry decisions where technology plays a pivotal role tilts decidedly against counting on successful regulation. Second, the technology here is unlike anything the FCC has successfully regulated before. Judging networks, which are constructed and operated for maximum private gain and not based on a government-approved rate of return model, isn\u27t among them. Finally, the agency itself has yet to demonstrate that it is the best locus of power for deciding the fate of the Internet. The political economy of the FCC makes it less successful as an expert agency. This Article focuses on two somewhat interrelated solutions: reliance on the shame/Wiki/blog culture of the Internet and disclosure of management practices by network providers, enforceable under contract. These approaches are congenial with the most basic Internet values of information transparency and sharing

The geopolitics behind the routes data travels: a case study of Iran

The global expansion of the Internet has brought many challenges to geopolitics. Cyberspace is a space of strategic priority for many states. Understanding and representing its geography remains an ongoing challenge. Nevertheless, we need to comprehend Cyberspace as a space organized by humans to analyse the strategies of the actors. This geography requires a multidisciplinary dialogue associating geopolitics, computer science and mathematics. Cyberspace is represented as three superposed and interacting layers: the physical, logical, and informational layers. This paper focuses on the logical layer through an analysis of the structure of connectivity and the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). This protocol determines the routes taken by the data. It has been leveraged by countries to control the flow of information, and to block the access to contents (going up to full disruption of the internet) or for active strategic purposes such as hijacking traffic or attacking infrastructures. Several countries have opted for a BGP strategy. The goal of this study is to characterize these strategies, to link them to current architectures and to understand their resilience in times of crisis. Our hypothesis is that there are connections between the network architecture shaped through BGP, and strategy of stakeholders at a national level. We chose to focus on the case of Iran because, Iran presents an interesting BGP architecture and holds a central position in the connectivity of the Middle East. Moreover, Iran is at the center of several ongoing geopolitical rifts. Our observations make it possible to infer three ways in which Iran could have used BGP to achieve its strategic goals: the pursuit of a self-sustaining national Internet with controlled borders; the will to set up an Iranian Intranet to facilitate censorship; and the leverage of connectivity as a tool of regional influence