Broadband Access via Ad Hoc Networks: A Solution for Rural and Mountain Regions

In recent years, ad hoc networking is experiencing the transition process from being an academic research topic, lab implementation to realistic industrial applications. Ad hoc networks could facilitate the provision of broadband services in rural and mountain regions. Thereby, challenging the existing digital divide. Furthermore, ad hoc networking could unveil the affordable and necessary infrastructure to deliver both multimedia services and to facilitate territorial marketing and public safety applications. However, significant challenges need to be addressed before broadband services with QoS can be delivered to remote and inaccessible areas through this technology paradigm. This paper focuses on the role that the ADHOCSYS project will play on pursuing such goals addressing relevant challenges for such infrastructure. In particular several challenges such as power supply, routing protocol and security issues will be faced and discussed in details.