Bill St. Arnaud points out that there are unused opportunities for networking in the GSM mobile phone chips we carry around in our phones. In his article
New business and research opportunities in building 5G Internet networks – Dutch lead the world
he identifies GSM as a networking opportunity that is not being utilized. “Freeing” the SIM cards by making them talk to each other, or with the nearest relay tower of a (different) mobile phone provider, would be required to make this work. There is a movement in the Netherlands to achieve this.
Today’s mobile wireless network market is characterized by hideously complex protocols, usurious access fees and attempts to build micro managed applications inside walled gardens e.g. GSMA. They never learn. This is the same approach the telcos/cablecos tried two decades ago with the first implementation of networked applications, prior to the widespread deployment of the Internet. But the Dutch are now exploring a game changer for the wireless internet world, very much like the Internet transformed the wire line market – and that is how to allow users and organizations like R&E networks to deploy their own nationwide or global next generation wireless networks integrated with their fiber backbones.
Rudolf van der Berg has written a great report for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs on how we can make SIM cards open and accessible to everyone which enable a whole new generation of wireless networks and applications. Freeing the SIM cards will allow users, R&E networks, community networks to deploy their own Internet wireless infrastructure that integrates Wifi, Whitespace, FTTH, mesh networks and traditional 3G/4G networks.
Another Dutch leader – Herman Wagter who built the Amsterdam CityNet network is also developing technology that will home owners connected with fiber to deploy micro or pico solar or wind powered Wifi or GSM cells integrated with these user controlled national wireless Internet networks. Finally Jaap van Till is working on technology to deliver WiFi /GMS signals over fiber at schools, homes and universities.
Lots of technical hurdles to overcome. The article (linked above) has more discussion on how to overcome them.