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Status:

INFORMATIONAL

Authors:

J. Saldana, Ed.
A. Arcia-Moret
B. Braem
E. Pietrosemoli
A. Sathiaseelan
M. Zennaro

Stream:

IRTF

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DOI:  https://doi.org/10.17487/RFC7962

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Abstract

This document presents a taxonomy of a set of "Alternative Network Deployments" that emerged in the last decade with the aim of bringingInternet connectivity to people or providing a local communicationinfrastructure to serve various complementary needs and objectives.They employ architectures and topologies different from those ofmainstream networks and rely on alternative governance and businessmodels.

The document also surveys the technologies deployed in thesenetworks, and their differing architectural characteristics,including a set of definitions and shared properties.

The classification considers models such as Community Networks,Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), networks owned byindividuals but leased out to network operators who use them as alow-cost medium to reach the underserved population, networks thatprovide connectivity by sharing wireless resources of the users, andrural utility cooperatives.

For the definition ofStatus,seeRFC 2026.

For the definition ofStream, seeRFC 8729.