Ukraine has always been a place of contradictions and diverse standards. One field in particular embodies this divergence of capabilities and capacities: information technology (IT). And more specifically, the Internet and the various ways of accessing it.
Ukrainians are already widely using technologies that enhance communications such as Bluetooth, and such hand-held devices as the Blackberry are increasingly common.
Following a pattern that has already remade the technological landscape of much of the West, Ukrainians are increasingly turning to WiFi, a few years old technology that now enjoys wider acceptance and use on an almost daily basis.
But slowing down for a moment out of respect for those of us still confused by how email works, what exactly is WiFi? How does it work? And to put it bluntly, why WiFi?
"Basically, WiFi is a way for computers to talk to each other without any wires. There's a complicated protocol that I won't go into but WiFi doesn't replace your Internet connection, it just replaces the wire between the Internet connection and the computer, so you still need a wireless access point to be connected to the Internet somehow," said Jason Songhurst, a Kyiv-based computer programmer with WiFi expertise.
"WiFi works by radio waves, sending packets of information from your laptop to the access point, onto the web, and back to your laptop. Originally WiFi was called 802.11x and it sounded really dorky. So the guys that came up with 802.11x hired a branding firm to find a new name for it and they came up with WiFi. Probably because it sounds like 'hi-fi', as in hi-fi stereos, so calling it "WiFi" would make it kind of retro-futuristic.
"But in any case, why WiFi is because it's great! You can surf the web from your laptop in a park as long as there's an access point nearby. Usually you can be 45 to 90m away from an access point in any direction, and because it's like a radio wave, it doesn't matter if there are any obstacles in between you and the access point," Jason added.
All in all, wireless Internet has begun to sound like the best thing since sliced bread, or at least since the invention of the Internet itself. So what is its status in Ukraine and Kyiv? Interestingly, though other computer-operated systems, such as elevators, are sketchy at best, numerous restaurants and hotels and even Boryspil airport have been confirmed to offer WiFi connections. But before you grab your laptop and head for the nearest restaurant, there is a small catch. A lot of places allow you to connect to their wireness network, but then if you want to go to any non-Ukrainian sites you have to buy an international-Internet subscription (like the Sim-Sim Internet recharge cards).
Another problem that causes considerable complaint is the speed. The more people on a given network, the slower the network moves and the longer it takes to do simple things like surf the web or chat. Also, the waiters and waitresses in restaurants that use WiFi to build business almost never have the technological know-how to troubleshoot connection problems. This is understandable but not entirely rewarding for the customer. In general, however, the existence of wireless Internet in a restaurant tends to be a sign that: a. they have foreign interests at heart and b. they have a decent business lunch.
The quality of WiFi connections are improving, but there is another topic that is perhaps even more important, that of security. Most restaurants and hotels do not have very secure setups for their wireless network. As a result, if you are sending information that is private and confidential over the general access points without any additional security measures, there is a chance that someone would be able to intercept and see what you're sending. Its kind of like sending mail in a clear plastic bag, anyone who knows where to look can read it. With the extra security measures, it would be the equivalent of sending mail in a sealed envelope. If you are only sending harmless information, then clear plastic bag vs. sealed envelope does not make much difference, but if you are buying something online and inserting credit card information, then obviously, the more opaque the envelope the better. According to Jason, "In terms of online security, you're only as safe as the people you're doing business with."
One telecommunications expert we consulted holds the view that wireless connections can be fairly secure but most people don't activate the security features even though all that is required is a couple of well placed passwords and some encryption software. He also commented that airwaves are technically a natural resource similar to other radio waves, thus without a spectrum management policy in Ukrainian legislation or a system for awarding licenses, everyone using wireless Internet would be doing so illegally. He feels that either there needs to be a legal ruling that places bandwidth WiFi use within public domain, or there needs to be some sort of regulation. Conclusive information on this subject is hard to come by, but over this past summer a number of conferences and workshops were held in Kyiv discussing it. In the absence of anything definitive, WiFi connections will most probably continue their steady expansion throughout Kyiv.
While Kyiv's wireless networks are growing somewhat organically and without much pre-planning, a number of businesses and cities (particularly in North America) are looking at building free or low-fee wireless networks as a way to improve business appeal, increase public knowledge and provide easy access to the Internet. For example, in August Google created free wireless access points around the entire city of Mountain View, California. According to a local newspaper there, "Anyone with a laptop can get the "GoogleWiFi" signal, and while it may be a tad slower than what you're used to considering it's serving an entire city, it's absolutely free. In a company blog, a Google official gave two reasons for bequeathing the service to Mountain View: (a) to give back to the community; and (b) to make Mountain View into a national example in encouraging others to do the same."
There is also a growing trend to offer wireless networks to under-developed cities in an attempt to jump the development gaps and plunge directly into the modern globalized world. Take for example, the computer giant Intel. An article published on 21st September states that "Intel World Ahead philanthropic program seeks to bring wireless Internet access to less-modern parts of the world over the next five years... Its first beneficiary is a remote Brazilian city of Parintins, which is home to 114,000 people on an island in the Amazon River."
Perhaps the most frequent users of WiFi in both Ukraine and the world are those who are frequent flyers, but here there's a bit of a disjoint. Many of the airline waiting rooms and VIP lounges at airports in even some of the most remote parts of the world have made available WiFi service for some time now. That includes Kyiv's Boryspil International Airport. However convenient and plentiful ground WiFi hookups may be at airports, when you get airborne it is an almost totally different story.
Only one international airline, Scandinavian, has made a major commitment to airborne WiFi service, while most other carriers are still considering the considerable costs and technological challenges. Kyiv is not one of those places served directly by Scandinavian and all available information from airline sources suggests that other airlines are not ready to make the switch to on board WiFi.
The best known on board WiFi system, called Connexion, was developed by Boeing and that is the one that Scandinavian is using. However, Boeing's efforts to get its WiFi system on other carriers have been largely unsuccessful. The phenomenon of as many as 50 passengers on a Scandinavian flight from Copenhagen to Seattle using their laptops to check e-mail and surf the net may be some time before it is duplicated by other airlines.
One of the U.S. carriers that is still in the consideration stage concerning WiFi is Delta Airlines, which recently became the first U.S.-based carrier to offer non-stop service between Kyiv and New York. "Presently, Delta's new Panasonic eFX digital on-demand entertainment system, which is available to BusinessElite customers on Delta's direct flights from Kyiv to New York, does have the capability for accessing the Internet, but that feature has not yet been activated," said Dan Fenech, Delta's country sales manager and general representative in Kyiv.
The slow progress of WiFi usage in Ukraine is almost certain to heat up and it appears likely that it will be the young people, or more correctly marketing to young people, that will make the difference. In the United States and in some parts of Europe, fast food chains such as McDonald's and those competing with them have latched on to WiFi as a driver of customer traffic. Of course, the fact that not only laptop computers but also most hand held electronic gear is now being manufactured certifiably "WiFi enabled" seems certain to bring the phenomenon that has exploded Far Eastern and United States WiFi numbers to other parts of the world - including Ukraine.
With literally tens of millions of units of WiFi enabled technology rolling off the assembly lines every year, the time may come - and not too far away - when it may be possible to walk from one end of Khreshchatyk to the other without every losing Internet connection via WiFI. Whether that is good news or bad news is a subject for personal reflection, but the inevitability of that circumstance seems - well, inevitable.
The explosive growth is certainly ahead, but if you choose to lug your laptop along there are a widening number of places in Kyiv where you may plop down, check your mail, surf the net, or - if the coffee is too long coming - e-mail a nasty note to the manager of the cafe or restaurant that is providing you free of charge Internet access.
And for those young Lotharios with panache and the technology to pull it off, you may punch up Google's earth images service and show the current girlfriend live satellite photos of all those places you'd like to take her.
Fifteen years ago, very few would have predicted the absolute saturation level of mobile telephone penetration of all levels of public life and commerce. Perhaps WiFi may wind up being the quintessential "next big thing." Just how big remains written in the stars. o
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