A smarter way to build public Wi-Fi networks in Australian towns and cities

Introducing the Duxtel Zone Model

Duxtel presents The Zone Model - a human-centred rather than technically-driven approach to the design of municipal public Wi-Fi networks for Australia's growing towns and cities.

 

Getting in The Zone.

Zones are self-contained, functionally-independent, fixed-cost mini-networks deployed by deployed by the City, Traders Association or Business Chamber organisation where residents and visitors congregate to undertake specific activities such as shopping, cultural activities or simply relaxing in parks and gardens.

 

Lower the risk. Roll out progressively.

Zones reduce risk exposure by enabling a Public Wi-Fi service to be rolled out in stages. Testing demand and educating both users and content providers without incurring the financial penalties typically associated with a prudent progressively staged deployment schedule. Because there is no expensive centralised wireless controller (whose cost must be amortised across the entire municipal network), the first Zone is no more expensive than subsequent Zones. Each Zone is managed through Duxtel's cloud-based hotspot management solution Duxtel Commander. While Zones can be commissioned independently and at low cost Duxtel Commander provides a unified management and analytics interface. A seamless logon and roaming experience greets users when they enroll in the network and then go on to explore city attractions, shops and services.

 

Simplified cost-planning. Simplified delivery.

Cost-planning is simplified because each Zone is the same price regardless of its position in the deployment schedule and - if required - the implementation cost burden can be spread over multiple financial years. Service delivery planning is simplified because coverage areas are identified by activity type. The service is targeted at these vibrant activity Zones rather than areas where there is little user population. The Zone model offers a robust and resilient Public Wi-Fi network in which vulnerable long distance links are replaced by multiple independent connections to the Internet. This pragmatic approach increases flexibility, reliability and allows a la carte selection of backhaul technology, on a Zone-by-Zone basis, from options that include ADSL, 4G wireless, DOCSIS cable, optical fibre or the NBN. A Duxtel Wi-Fi Zone consists of as many as 4 Satellite Nodes connected to a Central Node. All Nodes in the Zone participate in providing Wi-Fi access to the public.

 

The fixed price of $6,500 per Zone (plus taxes) includes:

  • Zone site survey and technical design.
  • Supply and configuration of wireless hardware components for Central and Satellite Nodes, including weatherproof enclosures and mounting components.
  • Provisioning of the Internet service including Zone gateway router and 12 months bandwidth.
  • Duxtel Commander software configuration and interface customisation.
  • 12 months software license and maintenance.
  • Captive portal customisation.
  • Software training.
Negotiable optional upgrades to the fixed-price package include:
  • Physical installation of the Central Node and Satellite Nodes to infrastructure such as lightpoles.
  • Electrical works where power unavailable.
  • Internal data cabling within Council buildings.
  • Public traffic control.
  • Cranes and lifts for elevated installations.

 

Advanced Intelligence

Built in to the DuxTel solution is a powerful set of intelligence gathering and processing tools.  Although privacy considerations rule out collection of sensitive personal information, wireless users accessing the network can be identified by a unique yet anonymous serial number. Using these unique identifiers, and recording various network related activity within the FreeNet systems, it is possible to gather useful visitation and movement data.  Not only is it possible to extract highly relevant information quantifying FreeNet value in driving traffic to the various web information, but it even becomes possible to map individual consumer movement as they each peruse various information available via participating subscriber organisations.

 

Visibility Options

There exists a range of visibility options open to FreeNet participants, depending on their own particular requirements for access to the WiFi enabled consumer:

Basic FreeNet Entry and Participation: Simply by purchasing and installing a DuxFi appliance, the subscriber may publish their nominated web content to the FreeNet walled garden, and utilise the built in hotspot functionality to potentially generate additional revenue from internet access ticket sales. The subscriber’s business is promoted on the customised DuxFi launch page, as well as a link to the nominated web content.

Premium FreeNet Membership:  Further promotes the subscribers business and FreeNet published web content to selected launch pages throughout the FreeNet network, as well as access to a range of demographic and consumer movement and tracking data and statistical reports.

FreeNet Partner Program: Program partners enjoy access to the full range of available intelligence, and improved opportunity to publish content to the FreeNet walled garden. Partner program participants enjoy widely distributed promotional content on all launch pages within the Freenet network.

 

Integrated Roaming and Tracking

When connected to any broadband internet service, the DuxMaster device automatically establishes a Virtual Private Network (VPN) link back to the DuxAdmin application, and is therefore capable of immediately becoming a part of a wider network entity, thus sharing information distribution and access services throughout the virtual network community, and even track individual device IDs and usage habits.