RemIX: A Distributed Internet Exchange for Remote and Rural Networks

Description of impact

Though remote network and broadband access R&D is far from complete, the next objective is increasingly clear: Establish high-quality 'backhaul' for remote, isolated networks to interconnect with the rest of the Internet, that is otherwise prohibitively expensive, if it exists at all. Our work is shaped by three broad goals: (i) establish high-quality backhaul to remote regions; (ii) ensure backhaul affordability for small access networks; (iii) allow networks to maintain the autonomy that is fundamental to their sustainability. RemIX implementation on the West Coast of Scotland serves more than a dozen communities across more than 1000 square kilometres. The architecture has (i) increased remote communities’ backhaul connectivity from bonded poor-quality ADSL to gigabit Ethernet; (ii) incurred no additional expense on individual subscribers for the improved service; and (iii) established administrative autonomy for each subscriber community-network. RemIX has adopted familiar components, standards, and technologies, to fit within the target environment and ensure reproducibility. Also, the cooperative business and operating models respect the target audience, while ensuring long-term sustainability. The service itself, in this case owned and operated by HUBS c.i.c., operates both physical infrastructure provider, as well as network provider, as cooperative business models, with OPEX and CAPEX shared by subscriber members. Each member network is charged for transit according to the industry standard 95th percentile burstable billing model. As a co-op, all accounting transparent to members. We ensure each member network has the tools to monitor and account for usage within their own communities. This practice has enabled community networks to keep individual access fees below £20 per month.

Who is affected

The West Highlands and Islands Exchange (WHIX), our Remix implementation on the West Coast, is accessible by 100% of the target communities, and is easily extended to additional communities by establishing additional wireless point-to-point links.

Coverage includes hundreds of premises from Ardtoe and Glenuig to the south, Eigg and Rum to the west, Armadale and Glenelg to the north, with Arnisdale and Inerie to the east.

WHIX is owned by the subscriber networks, and operated by HUBS c.i.c., a research spinout related to the wider project that serves thousands across Scotland's remote regions.

Narrative

The RemIX architecture is designed to aggregate demand to generate economies of scale where none exist otherwise, while preserving subscriber network autonomy.

Broadly speaking, we have learned that solutions are complicated by both terrain and by culture. In particular we note: (a) Social aspects and organization of communities can fail to align with the ideal “electronic” or networked communities, eg. physical landscape constrains connectivity; also that social and economic groups can be determined by vehicles for funding. (b) Local network infrastructure is non-uniform and varies in complexity. (c) Communities that share network resources generally do so in a non-systematic or ad-hoc manner.

The Scottish Highlands and Islands, where this work is currently implemented, consist of mountainous terrain stretching along a 400km north to south corridor. Islands are scattered on the West, while deep lakes and glens penetrating the mainland to the East. The economy was traditionally maritime, and nearly all habitation is at sea level or in the glens, so that line-of-sight between communities rarely exists.

Fibre in the region has only recently appeared. Much of the telephone network in the region was constructed with microwave links. Infrastructure is improving, but plans terminate at telephone exchanges. Among them, fibre-based services are rare. In the medium term future, local wireless distribution is the only feasible technology for adequate bandwidth and quality of service.

With HUBS' and Universities' assistance many communities have constructed their own local distribution networks with point-to-point wireless links that can span more than 25km. Relays are robust, inexpensive, and constructed by local residents. Expertise is often shared between communities, also infrastructure where feasible, yet communities operate independently. Constrained by availability, they acquire backhaul via ADSL lines nearby to telephone exchanges. Ethernet services have since emerged in two larger towns, with wholesale pricing that exceeds the budget of any single community. This gap in services and affordability was the motivation for RemIX.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the world's first distributed and wireless Internet Exchange Point (IXP). The features of RemIX described below will be instantly recognizable to anyone who has participated in a regular Internet Exchange Point (IXP). This is by design. RemIX is architected to mirror in under-serviced regions, the benefits of IXPs in urban regions. The encapsulation of small community networks in Autonomous Systems (ASes) means that community networks can present a uniform interface to a transit provider, cooperate, and share resources. RemIX provides these benefits to members without sacrificing their independence, a necessary attribute for long-term sustainability.

Impact status	Open
Category of impact	Economic, Commercial Impact, Public Discourse Impact, Public Policy Impact, Social Impact, Technology, Health and Welfare Impact