Delay Tolerant Networking to Extend Connectivity in Rural Areas Using Public Transport Systems: Design And Analysis

TL;DR

This paper proposes a Delay Tolerant Networking framework that uses public transport as mobile data carriers to improve internet access in rural areas, with analytical models validated by real-world case studies.

Contribution

It introduces a probabilistic mobility model and analyzes key performance metrics for DTN in rural transport networks, demonstrating practical scalability.

Findings

Significant improvement in connectivity using public transport as data mules.

Analytical approximation of Mean Peak Age of Information validated by simulations.

Case studies confirm real-world applicability in multiple cities.

Abstract

In today's digital age, access to the Internet is essential, yet a significant digital divide exists, particularly in rural areas of developing nations. This paper presents a Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) framework that utilizes informal public transportation systems, such as minibus taxis, as mobile data mules to enhance connectivity in these underserved regions. We develop a probabilistic model to capture the randomness in vehicle mobility, including travel times and contact durations at bus stops. Key performance metrics are analyzed, including average data transmission rate and Peak Age of Information (PAoI), to assess the effectiveness of the proposed system. An analytical approximation for the Mean PAoI (MPAoI) is derived and validated through simulations. Case studies from real-world datasets in Nouakchott, Accra, and Addis Ababa demonstrate the practical applicability and scalability of our framework. The findings indicate that leveraging existing transportation networks can significantly bridge the digital divide by providing reliable internet-like connectivity to remote areas.