Hello Linuxers, An internet connection for the common man, that provides a download speed of 1 GBytes per second is still a dream. Although satellite based net connections exist, they have limitted subscribers due to high costs and limitted bandwidth.
Nowadays the satellite broadcast frequencies are already in several Ghz, for example the Ku band that transmitts DTH signals. Suppose we have a satellite that transmitts at a frequency of say 10 Ghz. This translates to a digital bit rate of 10 Gbits per second. After a little frequency beating, we get an output signal of 8 Gbits per second or 1 GByte per second. This signal inputs into the computer using a gigabit LAN. The problem with normal internet is that it is an instantaneous system where the data is downloaded as per the user requirement and different users have different data to be simultaneously downloaded, thereby reducing bandwidth per user. Suppose instead of this we have a system where the data is not downloaded on demand but is serially transmitted at a high speed like 1 Gbytes per second. This means that in 24 hours, a channel of 1 Gbytes/sec can transmitt 24 x 3600 Gbytes of data. This corresponds to 86400 Gbytes or 86.4 terabytes of data in 24 Hours. The user has no choice but to wait for 24 hours for the next broadcast in case he/she has just missed it. If the satellite has 24 transponders then this data is split into 24 slots of one hour each. So now the waiting peroid for the next download is only one hour. If the transponders are 48 then this further reduces repeat download time to half an hour only. The final result is that the downloadable files are available to *everyone* within the satellite footprint at a speed of 1 GBytes/second subject to a maximum waiting period of 1 hour or 30 minutes. So everyone benefits equally and parallely. This will bnefit remote schools, villages and anyone in any remote part of the country. All data will be linked to an index file that will be transmitted as a pilot file. This file will be a mini website cum search engine classified into topics and subtopics. These will link to the actual file and its corresponding transponder and its broadcast time. A timer in the receiver will mark this file and download it at its arrival time into a buffer harddisk or directly into the computer depending on the hardware design. This will be very usefull for downloading large files, cds, dvds and other bulky data. Entire newspaper websites can be downloaded for liesure reading. Imagine downloading 4 CDs of Linux within 3 seconds flat. The cost for setting this system up will not be cheap but considering the India-China-Asia-Pacific region alone, the number of subscribers will be in millions or a billion. The receiver should not cost more than a DTH system that is now available for Rs. 3000/-. Lets put it at 5000/- rupees. This is just a one time investment. If every subscriber is charged max. 100 rupees or 2$ per month, then this translates to approx. a billion dollars every month from the entire region. This makes it the system for the common man. There will be additional income from the website owners just as they normally pay for web space and from advertisers. Ads will now be fullfledged video films not dancing gif images. This system will peacefully co-exist with the normal internet which will be still used for general purpose light surfing, email, uploads, chat, online payments and registration. The entire software for this can be developed using Linux which is stable and open-source and the techies are available right here in India so no need to import them. Equipment can be procured from China or elsewhere. Please send your suggestions and criticisms and if you like the idea, you can very well use it and help to provide a real high speed net for everyone. Many of you guys are in high positions in big organisations and you can set the ball rolling. Thanks and Regards, Rony. -- http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/mailman/listinfo/linuxers
