An Open Access Network (OAN) refers to a horizontally layered network architecture and funding model that separates physical access to the network from service provisioning. Where the same OAN is used by a number of different users and/or providers that share the investment and maintenance cost.
OAN networks are now in hundreds if not thousands of local settings around the world and come in all shapes and sizes ranging from local neighborhoods to metropolitan wide networks connecting many homes and buildings. They are not just limited to only one type of network system as they can include hybrid combinations of both commercial and community networks with many forms of technology including fibre, copper wire, and wireless.
The model is simple to understand by those familiar with a IP/TCP network. However, for most in the community this concept requires a change in the way people think of telecommunications as the communications world grew up around telephone and broadcast services that are shaped by a business model based upon managing and allocating ‘scarcity’. Scarcity of network capacity, scarcity of customer equipment and scarcity of centralized switching facilities. But major technological developments near the end of 20th century have completely turned this world upside down. Namely:
- The personal computer
- TCP/IP networks
- High speed Optical Fibre data transmission
- Spread spectrum wireless data transmission
- Free and Open Source Software
Consequently, relatively large telecommunications systems are no longer outside the realm of individual(s), small businesses and organisations, as they can be built in a piece-meal fashion at low cost, requiring little maintenance, where the parts can be virtually bought “off-the-shelf” at a local retail store.
For this reason Community Wireless Networks are now not just seen as hobby lead interest group in many parts of the world they are apart of the OAN phenomena of community funded and operated networks. Unfortunately in Australia, Community Wireless Networks or other styles of shared networks are held back from becoming apart of the OAN revaluation due to regulations that are out of step these major technological developments.
Put in simple terms the current Telecommunications Act does not allow individuals or businesses to share the cost of a ‘carriage service’ (namely Internet but this could include any other paid service or media) across a property boundary unless they hold a Carrier License.
Indeed it could be claimed that these regulations are in place to protect consumers and that a Carrier License is available for anyone who wish to apply, provided they can meet the requirements of the license. Nevertheless in a shared network model this is very complex, expensive and impractical, as each participant in the OAN would require a Carrier License each time it passes from one network owner to another.
However, if a handful of people can build and maintain a broadband network that covers hundreds of square kilometres like Air-Stream Wireless, how much more could be achieved with broader participation from business and other private or public organisations if not constrained by out-dated regulatory complexity?
Some references and ideas have been sourced from: