{"id":200152,"date":"2019-06-06T18:53:04","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T22:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=200152"},"modified":"2019-06-06T18:53:04","modified_gmt":"2019-06-06T22:53:04","slug":"could-street-net-the-largest-private-data-network-in-cuba-disappear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/could-street-net-the-largest-private-data-network-in-cuba-disappear\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Street Net, the largest private data network in Cuba, disappear?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The controversy over a possible dismantling of SNET arises after last week the Cuban government <\/span>announced new resolutions<\/span><\/a> authorizing the import of equipment to establish wireless connections, as well as regulations that recognize and regularize local private networks, as in the case of the abovementioned SNET.<\/span><\/p>\n

SNET defined itself in 2016 as “an independent non-profit project, which uses the latest technologies available to create wireless and land-line networks that interconnect people, families and communities throughout Havana and nearby areas,” according to a statement released by its administrators.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the document, which circulated on the social networks and other digital channels, SNET explains the reasons why its users do not agree with the new regulations, which, after years of waiting, finally give a legal framework to individuals\u2019 operations of data networks.<\/span><\/p>\n

The creators of the document, available on a public Dropbox <\/span>public link<\/span><\/a>, explained anonymously that they value “positively the intention, within the process of computerization of Cuban society, to optimize the use of the radio spectrum and generate a legal framework so that people, individually, or associated under certain limits, can connect from their homes in an orderly manner to the infrastructure of ETECSA, and import equipment accordingly.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Following this, they offer a detailed explanation of the nonconformities with respect to the regulations and how they may attack the spontaneous structure that makes up the SNET.<\/span><\/p>\n

“There are issues in the new regulations that threaten the possible legalization of a metropolitan network like SNET and its similar ones in other provinces in the country, or that under those arguments are impossible to adapt to what is defined in the regulation,” they affirm.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are these aspects?<\/span><\/p>\n

-The limits established for the power of the equipment used to provide Wi-Fi.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the explanation is quite technical and specific, the administrators of SNET argue that by limiting the maximum power of emission of individuals\u2019 equipment, the managers of the connection nodes could not adjust the profit of the equipment and the output of the antenna without “disproportionately radiating power,” something the legislation forbids.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means that wireless networks can only have a range of 400 meters (according to the regulation), when currently some of the SNET equipment covers kilometers. The power of the allowed equipment would be enough to connect just three or four blocks, in case there is no interference obstacle that decreases that range.<\/span><\/p>\n

-The prohibition of (transversal) direct links between two networks without ETECSA\u2019s mediation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the regulation, point-to-point links would only be contemplated for legal entities (companies, institutions, etc.) and not individuals (private networks).<\/span><\/p>\n

-The non-possibility of Mesh networks.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The proposed regulations do not contemplate this possibility of connections between private networks, whose infrastructure is dynamic and non-hierarchical, which allows several nodes to connect between each other at the same time, without the need for a centralized structure.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Although this is detrimental to SNET and similar networks (more latency, less stability), it would be a way to reduce costs in an attempt to comply to some extent with the regulation,” the SNET administrators argued.<\/span><\/p>\n

–The difficulties of connecting properly to ETECSA.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If people can\u2019t connect to ETECSA’s network, they would have virtually no access to SNET, according to the new regulations, but the remoteness of most homes from public connection points is not considered. To maintain the current connection structure, SNET users would require an expensive deployment of equipment that guarantees a device every 3-4 blocks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Otherwise, there should be multiple points with powerful equipment (only provided by ETECSA in specific points of the city) that provide Wi-Fi and guarantee the connection, they explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Connections without quality for videogames.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Highly consumed services that require low latency (one of the fundamental principles of SNET) such as videogames, streaming, which are now a means of recreation, would be significantly affected, increasing the latency to more than 80ms,” they argued.<\/span><\/p>\n

-Expensive equipment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The regulation forces the community of SNET and similar ones to incur in additional costs for acquisition and maintenance of a greater quantity of equipment, with the aim of being able to join some blocks in a locality,” said the administrators.<\/span><\/p>\n

A (giant) street network<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although for the first time in 2016 SNET is openly spoken about in the official press, the network emerged several years before, close to 2000, and currently covers almost all the municipalities of Havana and surrounding areas, although there are also similar networks in other provinces in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
A graphic showing the structure of SNET, according to Adalberto Orta Pozo, posted on his Twitter @anubis_linux<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SNET user Yoel Est\u00e9vez shared a video taken four years ago that illustrates in some way how the “street network” works from inside and the different forms of interaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/yoel.estevez.3\/videos\/2034551420007620\/?t=0<\/p>\n

Fidel Alejandro Rodr\u00edguez, a professor of the University of Havana, explains that “the main use of these networks is playing videogames.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“It is also one of the main dynamics that drive and condition its development and transformation. For this, they are articulated in multiple pillar and neighborhood nodes depending on the most popular videogames such as Dota, Warcraft or Call of Duty, through a complex distributed network of medium and low range antennas, as well as LAN cables that cross buildings and rooftops,” Fidel Alejandro wrote in a research on the subject shared with OnCuba<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the world of gamers predominates, the network allows sharing information and databases of movies, books, etc., as well as several social networks similar to Facebook. The closest thing to the Internet outside the Internet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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No suelo comentar mucho tus tweets, pero este si me voy a tomar el trabajo de comentarlo. Pioneros en el proceso de informatizaci\u00f3n de #Cuba<\/a> son #Snet<\/a> #WifiHLG<\/a> y todas las redes callejeras (censuradas por a\u00f1os) que hace m\u00e1s de 10 a\u00f1os est\u00e1n informatizando el pa\u00eds a cambio de nada<\/p>\n

— Raul Alderete (@XC0D3) June 2, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n