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The Meraka Institute - a national research centre managed by the CSIR - hosted a mobile connection expert, Charles E. Perkins, who gave a talk on Mesh and other ad hoc networks. The Mesh colloquium was held at the Institute on 11 September. Perkins, also affectionately known as a “father” of mobile IP technology, is a Nokia Fellow in the Network Technology Laboratory at Nokia Research Centre. He does research on mobile wireless networking and dynamic configuration protocols. Prior to this, Perkins worked at Sun Microsystems and IBM.
In his presentation, Perkins says that there are possibilities for using Mesh networks to improve people’s lives in South Africa. “Mesh can also create business and learning opportunities,” said a visibly impressed Perkins during his first visit to the CSIR.
Kobus Roux, Competency Area Manager: Information Society Infrastructure says the aim of Perkins visit was to generate interest in Wireless Africa's access and mesh networking research. Roux adds that mesh networking is making headway in uplifting ordinary lives in South Africa. “Our trial network supported by the IDRC in Mpumalanga is proving highly beneficial to the community of Peebles Valley, linking schools, clinics and farms,” he says.
Sherrin Isaac, researcher at Meraka Institute, adds: “Wireless mesh networks are not yet widely deployed in the country, though they are beginning to flourish in the metropolitan areas. There are some trial deployments in the rural areas and those beneficiaries have reduced cost access to broadband internet access. In one of Wireless Africa's pilot deployments in Mpumalanga, an HIV/Aids clinic was connected to a hospice, which cut down travel time for the doctor, while the monthly 'phone bill for communication between the two went from R3 000 to about zero.”
The Institute researchers praised Perkins for delivering an “excellent summary of current research issues in ad hoc and mesh networking protocols”. Interest linkages with social networking were also highlighted.
The colloquium was attended by Telkom employees, academia and some industry representatives. According to Roux, Perkins left stakeholders and researchers begging for more. As a result, it was suggested that more such events be hosted and definite interest was expressed in partnerships with the Meraka research group.
More information: http://wirelessafrica.meraka.org.za/wiki/index.php/Mpumulanga_Mesh
More information: http://research.nokia.com/people/
Contact details:
Mzimasi Gcukumana
E-mail: mgcukumana@csir.co.za
Tel:+27 128413525 | 
