Herman Wagter is with GNA (Citynet Amsterdam). He spoke on Session 6: Networks here and there at the Freedom to Connect 2009 conference. If you'd like more info about the conference, see http://freedom-to-connect.net/

1. 1

2. Young heretics will make up their own mind.
2

3. Free thinkers go to the roots. The root of heresy is “choice”.
Conference full of “heretics”.
3

4. But beware, the price extracted by “the powers that be” is stage 1 and 2. Can be
frustrating.
4

5. My “heresies” I would like to share.
5

6. 6

7. Netherlands: a delta with mud, below sealevel.
Dutch mentality is influenced: clean up, be practical.
Theory and ideology is fine, but when there is danger of getting our feet wet
practicality takes over.
If it works but conflicts with theory and ideology, who cares…
7

8. Amsterdam, over 450.000 households, 70 % rental.
High density
8

9. old
9

10. new
10

11. Hybrid Fiber Coax networks : originally all constructed by municipalities and
housing corporations.
Sold when Chicago school thinking crossed the pond.
Everybody uses baseband video (analog)
11

12. Some prices. Almost never a data cap or P2P blocking (except cable operators).
12

13. Test of fiber user. Cable operator markets itself as fiber power, docsis 3.0 at 120
Mbps max down.
13

14. Asset: AMS-IX.
14

15. Peak at 21-22 hrs, driven by domestic use.
Only public peering and transit shown, private is not known publicly but also BIG.
Amazing:
-12 mio USD operation, non-profit, lowest cost/highest capacity as target,
cooperative ownership by all operators, not driven by shareholder value, no
regulation on it, no law specific for IX.
-Enormous value for economy and users : direct benefit over 0,5 billion euro/yr,
indirect one can only guess
-If it would break down economic losses are immense
Really Dutch: does not fit any theory or ideology, but works fantastic!
15

16. Connectivity between nations: NL is 5th, but per capita number 1.
16

17. Based on the belief that natural desire of people is unlimited connectivity, NGN
has direct effect on position of Amsterdam as home of AMS-IX, on economy, on
society.
17

18. Recent proof in Bangla desh
18

19. 19

20. No regulation or laws, communities construct networks.
Fiber strung along poles, LAN switches place, UTP 100/100 mbps to home.
Content server with 30-40 Mbps download, less than 5 Mbps people complain
Internet access is limited and slow, local is fast.
6-7 dollar a month
20

21. Grey IX.
Same in Pakistan, in other poor countries. Not in official statistics.
So: when not hindered by social constructs, people go for connectivity.
In society with limitations, burden on society to fulfill the need.
21

22. 22

23. Areal deployment Japan
23

24. Japan
24

25. Japan
25

26. USA
26

27. USA
27

28. But in Amsterdam: no poles, no wires outside building, you have to dig like other
utilities.
28

29. 29

30. 30

31. 31

32. 32

33. 33

34. Individual people, do not know their neighbours, have different networks.
Many nationalities and cultures.
34

35. 35

36. 36

37. Digging is relatively easy: sand and mud
37

38. 38

39. Deploying is disruptive, you don’t want to have to repeat this within 30-40 years.
So what the best choice?
39

40. Home run topology.
We did not know “it could not be done”, so we did it. Best otion
40

41. Home run will support any technology. Best fiber is fiber that does nothing at all
but guide light.
41

42. Like this. Even more efficient for GPON: better utilization ONT.
42

43. Horror stories on number of fibers? BS.
Fiberplant in street is 4 x smaller than copperplant.
POP for fiber is 4 x smaller copper+DSLAM exchange.
We live with copperplant already 100 years, home run.
Provisions for quick repair and protection.
43

44. Feedin for 10.000 users
44

45. So home run has high option value
45

46. Shared topology: less options.
46

47. 47

48. Capex: 10 % fiber, 10 % other stuff, 30 % labor inside building, 50 % labor
outside building.
So why skimp on fiber?
In suburbs: more fiber, less labor in building.
48

49. Digging
49

50. 50

51. 51

52. End of the day
52

53. POP in existing locations
53

54. 54

55. Finalized
55

56. Houseboat with fiber connection
56

57. 57

58. Detachable
58

59. Difficult buildings, architects ignore telecom.
Social engineering needed.
Fiber suppliers going through innovation steps (already 2 iterations) to improve
stuff and processes.
Only in Amsterdam/NL, Paris, Scandinavia experience with MDU deployment.
59

60. 60

61. 61

62. 62

63. 63

64. 64

65. 65

66. 66

67. Dutch innovation Eyecatcher.
Elderly people in test kept asking for facility to play cards…meaning social
experience like playing cards with 4 or more people.
Next killer app, very demanding on network, but “gotta have..”
67

68. 68

69. 69

70. 70

71. 71