Community Communication Networks: A Perspective from EURESCOM

1. Egidio Giachin CSELT - Centro Studi e Laboratori Telecomunicazioni (Telecom Italia Group) Via Reiss Romoli, 274 - 10148 Torino, Italy representing the participants in the EURESCOM P801 project Community Communication Networks: A Perspective from EURESCOM

2. U.S. Universities Townships U.E. Telematics Community nets Digital cities Civic nets Public Admin. PNOs CCNs? What is that?... Just a few examples of current initiatives:

3. CCNs: • Information and communication space • Emphasis on locality • Support for daily needs of citizens • Support for the businesses • Support for the public administration • … an opportunity for PNOs (and others actors)

4. “Anywhere” CCN The enabling surround Education Gateway to the GII Health Business & commerce Civic life Leisure & social life Tourism & culture Local news Citizen-empowered communication and information

5. CCN vision • Innovative Infrastructure • Innovative Services and Applications • Sustainable commercial activity • PNO and other local Actors involved • Citizens, businesses and authorities • Geographic area of everyday interaction • Information and communication • New tariffing and billing paradigms • New usage patterns • Gateway to EII and GII • High levels of public awareness • High levels of connectivity A common trend Scope Technology -driven MAN environments for major businesses Civic Authority Information Networks with public-access points PNO driven experiments to provide institutional and business networks in cities Education Networks linking Schools, Colleges etc University Campus Networks Enthusiasts on the WEB creating local virtual networks Time

6. Why a Strategic EURESCOM project? • Many initiatives, growing interest: • Common aspects? • Common trends? • New roles, new actors potentially involved: • Impact on PNO? SS 701 P 801 British Telecom, Finnet Group, Deutsche Telecom, CSELT / Telecom Italia, Matav, Telenor, Telecom Eireann

7. verifying & Stimulate ideas/ assessing solutions, questions proof of concepts Studying CCNs: How do you do that? Experimental work on existing CCNs Project Management User behaviour and requirements Business implications Infrastructure Dissemination of results

8. verifying & Stimulate ideas/ assessing solutions, questions proof of concepts Studying CCNs: How do you do that? Experimental work on existing CCNs Project Management User behaviour and requirements Business implications Infrastructure Dissemination of results

9. User requirements • Main objectives: • Capture existing knowledge on user • behaviour • Understand usage and needs: • required services, expected interfaces, usability,...

10. User requirements • Who are the users? • Individuals, business, official,… • What is the usual behaviour? • ICT behaviour, net usage, lifestyle… • Attitude towards present Internet • Penetration, household usage, “don’t need” attitude… • Prediction of user behaviour • in presence of technology migration • …continue to monitor real online communities

11. verifying & Stimulate ideas/ assessing solutions, questions proof of concepts Studying CCNs: How do you do that? Experimental work on existing CCNs Project Management User behaviour and requirements Business implications Infrastructure Dissemination of results

12. Infrastructure • Main objectives: • Compare existing solutions, recognize • best practice • Specify “optimal” infrastructure & • technology requirements • end systems • networking and network support services

13. Infrastructure

14. Communication Services CCN infrastructure provider(s) may consider the following services: Service Server technology E-mail SMTP, POP3, IMAP Chat Rooms Chat servers, IRC Discussion Groups News servers, NNTP Multi-point Video MCUs Voice over IP IP/PSTN Gateways A/V streaming Media Servers Virtual meeting points, Group of different type of servers Resource Sharing Groupware, file and document Directory service LDAP, X500, DNS, etc Infrastructure

15. Modem PC Infrastructure CNN Residential User CNN Business User Management POTS ISDN ATM ISDN ATM Adapter Access Customer Service Network Network Service Switch / Backbone Switch Cable CATV Router Modem FR/IP DPL DPL Modem Splitter ADSL NT FTTH Satellite VSAT Receiver Data Home Wireless Station

16. Infrastructure • Main objectives: • Compare existing solutions, recognize • best practice • Specify “optimal” infrastructure & • technology requirements • end systems • networking and network support services

17. verifying & Stimulate ideas/ assessing solutions, questions proof of concepts Studying CCNs: How do you do that? Experimental work on existing CCNs Project Management User behaviour and requirements Business implications Infrastructure Dissemination of results

18. Business model • Main objectives: • Understand the positions in the • value chain • Develop a business model of a • specific CCN

19. Business model • Making money on the Net • The lesson of virtual communities • A real local community using a CCN is a “virtual community”

20. Business model What are the characteristics of these sites? Buyer & Seller Service Providers Suppliers • Their characteristics are that they: • Focus on a defined communities’ needs • Provide valuable resources to members • Enhance members buying power • Provide new channel for supplier. Buyers

21. Attract Members Promote Participation Build Loyalty Capture Value • Marketing • Attractive Content • Free membership • Membergenerated content • Editorial/published content • Guest speakers/experts • Member to member relationships • Member to host relationships • Customised interaction • Transaction opportunities • Targeted advertising • Fees for premium services • Transaction histories Business model How communities grow

22. Business model • Making money on the Net • The lesson of virtual communities • A real local community using a CCN is a “virtual community” • The local newspaper paradigm • “The newspaper industry does not sell newspapers… • …it sells readers to advertisers” • Foster membership • PNOs can provide • Networks, connectivity, some applications • PNOs need partners to increase their value add

23. verifying & Stimulate ideas/ assessing solutions, questions proof of concepts Studying CCNs: How do you do that? Experimental work on existing CCNs Project Management User behaviour and requirements Business implications Infrastructure Dissemination of results

24. Grimethorpe Electronic Village Hall (UK) Nestvaed Electronic Community (Denmark) Ennis (Ireland) Torino 2000 (Italy) Bologna (Italy) Helsinki Arena 2000 (Finland) Oslo Community (Norway) Telecottage Project (Hungary) Stadt Koln (Germany) Experimental support The “interface to the real world” Trial sites:

25. Examples from Italy Torino From infrastructure to services Bologna Public Administration & services for the citizens

26. Conclusions • CCNs are rapidly evolving • Present developments of infrastructure can • support them • An opportunity for PNOs (and others) • Promote partnerships • Role of Public Administration