Internet over Ethernet: Wanted... Boosters!

Last-mile Internet access has been in news for quite some time now. Cable
modem, DSL and wireless–one has heard about all those enabling technologies.
Still, there are no straight answers to which is the best. While much has been
written about these different technologies, Internet through Ethernet is
something that has failed to get its due. One of the reasons for this could be
the fact that pioneers of this technology in India have largely been confined to
the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Gujarat, credited with housing a large number of ISPs, has also been the
first to welcome this innovative technology. Icenet and E Comm Opportunities,
two ISPs based at Ahmedabad, have been offering Internet access over Ethernet.
Internet access over Ethernet is successfully being used as an alternative to
the cable modem technology in the state.

"Expensive cable modems can be a major deterrent to the growth of
Internet in India," says Chirag Mehta, CEO, Icenet. Icenet’s Internet
service known as 24Online runs on an Ethernet network. The Internet LAN of the
ISP reaches distribution centers in various areas through a single-mode fiber
optic, which forms a Gbps backbone. From here, the Internet LAN goes to a box
called ‘customer head end-equipment’, which converts Ethernet to the RF
technology. High-grade bi-directional RF cables are then pulled out from
building-to-building. After every kilometer, the signal is amplified using a
bi-directional amplifier and whenever a connection needs to be dropped, a RF
signal is given to a line interactive unit which converts RF back to Ethernet
and drops it into the network card of a PC.

Low-cost Proposition

What makes the extended LAN technology an attractive proposition for
operators is the reduced network expense. This, in turn is passed on to the
customer who has to just shell out a one-time fee for the wiring and the
Ethernet card. This is where Internet via Ethernet scores over the CMTS
technology used by cable TV operators: there is no need to buy expensive cable
modems that cost around Rs 10,000. Moreover, the Ethernet network is manageable
and has options for remote diagnosis and maintenance, again a major advantage
over the cable TV network. "The cost of deploying an Internet network over
the cable TV network works out to about Rs 38,000 per subscriber (upgrade cost)
while the cost of deploying a new Ethernet is less than Rs 5,000 per
subscriber," Ruzan Khambatta, director, E Comm Opportunities, points out.
The Ethernet network is a 100 percent digital network and has none of the analog
components found in the cable TV network, she adds.

The network architecture of E Comm Opportunities is also in the form of an
Ethernet LAN, which covers the entire city. Its network is apportioned into
smaller segments to maximize bandwidth up to 10 Mbps for each segment. At the
first level, the city-wide network is divided into separate points-of-presence.
A typical PoP caters to an area of 10—20 sq km and is capable of supporting up
to 2,000 subscribers. The PoP comprises a router, which is the gateway of the
LAN within the PoP.

This LAN is further divided into smaller segments with the help of a central
switch. Each segment consists of a backbone cable (a 10-Mbps thick Ethernet)
going in different directions.

Simplified Access

The Internet over Ethernet technology can also be competitively compared with
the DSL technology. DSL RAS needs to be either located at the telco switch or
within the building. In India, it is not feasible to co-locate within the BSNL
or MTNL premises, so the only option is to locate RAS within the building. So
the coverage of the network becomes limited to the building. Laying underground
twisted-pair cable to nearby buildings can be a solution, but the costs involved
are high. Even otherwise, the cost of deploying a DSL network is Rs 50,000 per
subscriber for RAS (borne by the ISP) and Rs 25,000 for the DSL modem (borne by
the subscriber).

Though Internet through Ethernet is much cheaper as compared to DSL and CMTS,
it has a set of limitations too. It is not suitable to broadcast applications
wherein a large number of subscribers view the same content, and it is unable to
carry analog cable signals over the network. These technological issues need are
yet to be ironed out.

While players like India Online Network and Win Cable are providing
Ethernet-based Internet access in Mumbai as well, they have been unable to
expand into other cities. Unless these existing players venture out and
replicate their networks outside the confines of select cities, the technology
is unlikely to attract new takers. So what are they waiting for–the right
incentive or a tactical push? Somebody better answered that.

MT Jeevan