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Technical objectives for a WiFi network in Auckland
Technical objectives for a WiFi network in Auckland
These objectives were outlined in detail in Auckland City Council's Request
for Information (RFI) for potential partners on this project. The council hopes to
obtain key information and gain further insight into the feasibility of the
project. The responses to this RFI will contribute to the council business case
for this project.
- Outdoor and public open space only and at street level.
- Symmetric and high speed: The council expects that the network will support a
2Mb per second and symmetric broadband service in the area of coverage within
the footprint of each "hot spot".
- Not free except specified sites: The council is not expecting that this network
will provide any free access other than to a set of well-specified, definitive
list of websites that provide public good. The final list is open to discussions
and negotiations in due course.
- Open access: The WiFi network is open access, both technically and commercially.
- Industrial strength, resilient and scalable: The proposed WiFi network will be
designed and built to be of industrial strength, be resilient to exposures from
extremes of weather and be scaleable.
- Not pervasive nor supporting mobility: A well-planned series of "WiFi Hot Spots"
rather than blanket coverage will maximises use of the network. It will not
support any mobility i.e. persistent connection as the user moves from the
coverage of one hot spot to another. However the network should have the ability
to support roaming between the hot spots without being forced to use different
credentials.
- Support for multiple domains: The network will support different "domains" of
users (e.g. secure access by business users versus open access for public users
at large). This shall include the ability to define and manage different
profiles (e.g. VLANs) for authentication, encryption and other service
characteristics based on the requirements of each user-domain.
- Ability to prioritise: The network will ideally support the ability to
prioritise traffic for some uses to enable it to be considered for significant
public safety applications over time.
- Aesthetics: Auckland City Council is looking to demonstrate
world-class integration of modern technology in streetscape and urban
design. The council considers the following principles in relation to the
location of wireless equipment at this time.
- Visibility (extent to which equipment is visible in locality); public places and
private property
- Viewing audience (in relation to Auckland city population)
- Visual impact (in relation to streetscape character and quality and significant
views); from public places, from private properties
- Other landscape impacts; public safety and convenience, heritage zones,
buildings and objects, cultural associations.
Published July 2007
