Enhanced disruption tolerant network (DTN) framework for improving network efficiency in rural areas

Telecommunication is a problem in certain rural regions and deep rural regions in Malaysia because the absence of the standard communication infrastructure due to geographical and socio-economic limitations. The dense forest, mountainous regions and streams along the rural regions contributes to the main factor of the limitation of erecting a communication infrastructure. With the absence of infrastructure, communication capability is limited and this causes some villages to be disconnected. This condition is also known as intermittent connectivity whereby not even cellular networks can reach the villages prohibiting them from calling, texting and surfing the Internet. Additionally, the low-income status of the rural population and the lack of interest in technologies while having lower population and sparse village placement also adds into the factor of not erecting a communication infrastructure. This in turn, inhibits the development of IT sector in rural regions and hence causes the digital divide in Malaysia. To solve the intermittent connectivity issue while catering to the absence of infrastructure and socio-economic status of the rural populace, an enhanced delay/disruption tolerant network framework (DTN) is proposed in this research study. The aim of this paper is to explore the current trend and state-of-the-art of DTN by conducting initial experiments to design the DTN framework for improving the efficiency of internet connection in rural sites. In this paper, specific focus is provided for ION-DTN technology developed by NASA for conducting experiments and to develop optimized prototypes for designed DTN framework.