Wi-Fi for All 

Writing for Engineering  

Megan Golding, Eberge Dumay, Ahasan Bahar, Aaron Romero Marin 

1. Background

Access to the Internet has become essential to our daily lives. From paying bills to work, and even school, WI-FI has implemented itself as a need and not a want today. With everything being done online, adequate access to the Internet is important and is needed by every family. Here in New York City alone, many low-income families do not have proper access to adequate Internet. Due to the lower class’s limited access to the Internet, it creates a significant digital divide which leads to fewer economic and social opportunities. Our mission is to create a cheap and reliable device that would allow low-income families to have access to the Internet, so we can eliminate the digital divide moving forward.  

1. II. The Need for It

Access to Wi-Fi is essential for low-income families due to various reasons. Firstly, in education, Wi-Fi has become a crucial tool. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into classrooms and online learning platforms, students heavily depend on internet access to finish assignments, access educational resources, and communicate with teachers and classmates. The absence of Wi-Fi at home puts low-income students at a significant disadvantage, impeding their academic progress, restricting their ability to keep pace with their peers, and limiting their access to educational opportunities. 

Additionally, having access to Wi-Fi is vital for low-income families when it comes to job prospects and economic mobility. In the contemporary digital era, a significant portion of job applications, professional growth opportunities, and networking platforms operate primarily online. The absence of internet connectivity poses obstacles for low-income individuals in their job search, application submissions, and access to online training resources. By having Wi-Fi at home, they can greatly improve their capacity to explore job openings, apply for positions, and acquire new skills, ultimately increasing their likelihood of securing stable employment and enhancing their economic circumstances. 

Moreover, Wi-Fi plays a crucial role in enabling low-income families to access a wide range of government services and resources. With the increasing digitization of government agencies and organizations, many services have transitioned online to enhance convenience and effectiveness. These services encompass areas such as applying for social assistance programs, accessing healthcare information, or filing taxes. Without Wi-Fi access, low-income families may encounter obstacles in utilizing these vital services, resulting in additional difficulties and the risk of being excluded from essential benefits and support systems. 

In addition, Wi-Fi serves as a vital means of maintaining connections with others. In today’s interconnected society, internet access plays a crucial role in facilitating communication among low-income families, their relatives, friends, and support networks. It provides a medium through which they can stay connected, exchange information, and seek emotional assistance. Moreover, Wi-Fi enables access to online community resources, including social media groups, forums, and local community websites, which offer individuals opportunities to find support, gather information, and engage socially. 

Other Engineering Innovations 

Hotspots are regions where there is a strong need for internet connectivity but limited infrastructure available to meet that demand. To tackle this issue, various engineering advancements have been suggested and put into practice. A few instances include High-Altitude Platforms, Mesh Networks, and White Space Utilization  

1. High-Altitude Platforms 

High-Altitude Platforms also known as (HAPS) are aerial platforms positioned in the stratosphere, surpassing regular aircraft and weather patterns. Their purpose is to serve as communication relays, enabling internet access in isolated areas, regions affected by disasters, or during temporary events. Companies such as Google’s Project Loon and Facebook’s Aquila have conducted research and development in this field. HAPS can “be used to provide both fixed broadband connectivity for end-users and transmission links between the mobile and core networks used for backhauling traffic (HAPS – High-Altitude Platform Systems, 2019).” HAPs have gained attention as a potential solution for extending wireless communication coverage to remote or underserved areas. By acting as communication relays, they can bridge the connectivity gap in regions lacking terrestrial infrastructure or where it is economically unfeasible to deploy traditional infrastructure. HAPs can be deployed in various forms, including airships, balloons, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). “They can be equipped with wireless communication systems such as antennas, transceivers, and satellite links to establish connectivity with ground stations or other HAPs (HAPS – High-Altitude Platform Systems, 2019).”The advantages of HAPs include their ability to cover large areas, provide line-of-sight communication, and quickly deploy in emergency situations. They can offer services like broadband internet access, disaster response communication, surveillance, and environmental monitoring. 

1. Mesh Networks

Mesh networks are a type of network infrastructure where multiple interconnected devices or nodes work together to relay data and maintain network connectivity. Unlike traditional networks that rely on a centralized access point, mesh networks distribute the network intelligence across all nodes, creating a decentralized and self-configuring network. “A mesh networks are a group of connectivity devices, such as Wi-Fi routers that act as a single network, so there are multiple sources of connectivity around your house instead of just a single router (What Is a Mesh Network? – Google Nest Help, n.d.) .“Mesh networks can be established using various wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or even specialized mesh networking protocols. They are particularly useful in scenarios where the existing network infrastructure is limited, unreliable, or nonexistent, such as in remote areas or disaster-stricken regions.  

Mesh networks have been deployed in various applications, including community networks, smart home systems, wireless sensor networks, and outdoor urban deployments. They provide a cost-effective and flexible solution for connecting devices and enabling internet access in areas where traditional network infrastructure is impractical or unavailable. 

III. White Space Utilization 

White space utilization refers to the practice of utilizing the unused portions of the radio frequency spectrum, also known as white spaces, for wireless communication purposes. White spaces are the gaps between licensed frequency bands mainly allocated for television broadcasting. White space utilization involves the deployment of devices called TV white space (TVWS) transceivers. “These devices can detect and identify available white space frequencies in each location, ensuring that they do not interfere with licensed services (White Space, 2011)  “  They then use these frequencies to establish wireless connections and provide internet connectivity. One of the advantages of white space utilization is its ability to provide broader coverage compared to other wireless technologies. White space signals can travel longer distances and penetrate obstacles more effectively, making them suitable for serving rural areas or areas with challenging terrain. However, there are challenges associated with white space utilization. Coordinating the use of white spaces without interfering with licensed services is a key consideration. Regulatory frameworks and databases have been developed to manage and allocate white space frequencies efficiently, ensuring that they are used responsibly and in compliance with regulations. 

Technical Description of Innovation 

1. Process of the Innovation 

We plan to make a hotspot router that will be able to provide a medium-sized house with adequate internet access. We plan to do this by having a router-style device with antennas that have the strength and range to cover a minimum of 2 rooms.  

For a router to work it needs a couple basic components. The main components of a router are the processor, memory, storage, network interface, wireless antennas, and software. The antennas allow the router to transmit and receive data with nearby devices. The processor, memory, and storage all work together to manage the device’s operations and store the settings and data of the device. All these components come together and work in unison to create a local signal that nearby devices such as phones, computers, and tablets can connect to.  

The router is the product that our customers would receive. Now behind the operations, we would need to create new servers and signal towers to be operational. The server is where everything starts. The servers store user information and create a signal which is then directed to the cell towers which are then redirected into the client’s home. This process allows the servers, the user’s devices, and the servers to send information back and forth.  

1. Cost, time, materials, description of materials, labor, power

To be fully operational, we will need to upgrade the current infrastructure to ensure our customers get the service they need. The estimated price for the whole project is $5.5 billion. $5 billion to upgrade the current infrastructure to be able to provide service to our customers. This money will go towards building the servers needed to provide internet to our customers. This money will also go towards building the cell towers needed to transfer the signals from the servers into the user’s home and vice versa. $500 million for materials, labor, production of the device, and distribution of the device. $200 million would go towards building the necessary components for our device. The processors, antennas, operating system etc. $100 million would go into manufacturing and distribution and $200 million would go towards labor and distribution. This includes the labor it takes to assemble the products and ship them where they need to be. This would allow us to supply enough devices to low-income citizens of NYC. With nearly half the population either living below the poverty line or struggles with regular monthly expenses we would be able to provide them with routers for less than $50 per router. As for completion time, it would take approximately 2 years to fully upgrade the infrastructure throughout all 5 boroughs and another year to fully distribute our products to those that need them the most. 

Conclusion 

        In conclusion, it is crucial to prioritize the improvement of Wi-Fi access in low-income areas of New York City to promote equal opportunities and reduce the digital divide. Reliable internet connection has become a fundamental necessity for education, job prospects, communication, and accessing essential services. Our innovative approach involves the deployment of strategically positioned WiFi hotspots throughout these low-income areas, ensuring widespread coverage and connectivity. These hotspots are equipped with state-of-the-art wireless infrastructure and employ cutting-edge technologies to deliver fast and reliable internet access. 

References 

HAPS – High-altitude platform systems. (2019). Itu.int. https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/backgrounders/Pages/High-altitude-platform-systems.aspx 

What is a mesh network? – Google Nest Help. (n.d.). Support.google.com. https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7182746?hl=en  

White Space. (2011, January 12). Federal Communications Commission. https://www.fcc.gov/general/white-space  

Hp. (2020, July 17). What does a server do: HP® Tech takes. What Does a Server Do | HP® Tech Takes. https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/what-does-a-server-do  

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/what-does-a-server-do  

Arya SundaramPublished Apr 25, 2023ShareFacebookTwitterRedditEmail, & Giulia HeywardPublished May 21, 2023 at 4:56 p.m.Modified May 21. (n.d.). Half of NYC households can’t meet their basic financial needs, report says. Gothamist. https://gothamist.com/news/half-of-nyc-households-cant-meet-their-basic-financial-needs-report-says