IoT Working Group Minutes RIPE 86
24 May 2023, 10:30 - 11:30 (UTC+2)
Co-Chairs: Peter Steinhauser, Sandoche Balakrichenan
Scribes: Robert Kisteleki, Michel Stam
Status: Final
View the stenography transcripts
A.Introduction and Housekeeping
Peter Steinhauser
The presentation is available at
https://ripe86.ripe.net/wp-content/uploads/presentations/65-RIPE-86-IoT-Session-Slides.pdf
Peter Steinhauser opened the session. No new items were added to the agenda, and the minutes from RIPE 85 were accepted without comments. He shared that Sandoche was stepping down as co-Chair and that a new co-Chair would be selected at the end of the session.
B. Optical Wireless Communication for the Networking of Things
Lennart Bober, Fraunhofer HHI
The presentation is available at:https://ripe86.ripe.net/wp-content/uploads/presentations/95-Optical-Wireless-Communication-for-the-Networking-of-Things.pdf
Lennart presented on Optical Wireless Communications (OWC), the fundamentals of OWC and standards/practices when using OWC. He explained how OWC relates to machine-to-machine communications when seen as a subset of IoT. An example was shown where OWC was used for Industrial Communication and also mentioned Project 5G compass which integrates OWC into 5G networks.
Milica Đorđević, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering (Telecommunication Traffic and Networks), commented that she is working on a related topic for a university on the evolution of optical and seen fibre and thanked Lennart for the presentation.
Andreas Vischer from Deutsche Telekom asked about features that would be needed to mass market OWC, considering stability, interference and outdoor.
Lennart explained their experiences with outdoor and using millimetre wave length as a complement to OWC to improve stability.
Vesna Manojlovic, RIPE NCC, asked about sustainability, production, disposal and energy consumption.
Lennart said that ordinary components such as LEDs could be used, with future improvements like lasers to improve efficiency. He did not have any definite answers about power use.
C. Sharing Global Good Practice in IoT – A Global Agenda
Maarten Bottermann, embeDD GmbH
The presentation is available at:https://ripe86.ripe.net/wp-content/uploads/presentations/78-RIPE-2023-IoT.pdf.
Maarten presented on building trust in IoT globally, the benefits IoT can offer to the world and the challenges faced. He spoke about Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Dynamic Coalition on IoT, and highlighted the need to communicate and discuss ethical considerations at a technical as well as at an intergovernmental level to find a sustainable way ahead for IoT. He asked the audience to consider IoT in a global context when looking at development and deployment.
Blake Willis, Zayo, mentioned the issues with IoT devices that are made in Asia and how to ensure that these are malware-free etc., and asked if IGF is working on this.
Maarten responded that Internet standards are voluntary but that everyone is looking to adopt best practices. Being on the ICANN board, he sees that the goal is to guide, not control.
Michael Richardson, Sandelman Software Works Inc., asked for the URL for the IoT Good Practices document.
Vesna Manojlovic, RIPE NCC, asked whether there is any internal guidance on sustainability and about balancing goals that seem contradictory.
Maarten responded that devices may cause a bit pollution, but also indicate if things go wrong. Being conscious about what the impact of the device versus its impact is important.
D. Working Group Scope in RIPE / Working Group Charter
Peter Steinhauser, Sandoche Balakrichenan
Peter highlighted some achievements of the IoT Working Group such as the BCOP document ripe-759 but pointed out that things have largely been quiet since then. He asked if the charter of the Working Group was too broad, or whether they should collaborate more with other Working Groups. He asked for suggestions
Peter Koch, DENIC, agreed with the statement, and the suggestions, but said that changing the charter would not help. Focusing on initiatives and work on those would be interesting. Examples of these would be IETF or IP protocols.
Jim Reid, rtf llp, agreed with Peter and said that this was a good discussion to have but he felt that the low activity on the mailing list should not be a concern. The number of people present at the session indicated the interest in the working group. The working group should serve as a focus to get details of what is going on in other forums and could serve as a useful information exchange.
Neil O’Reilly, RIPE Vice-Chair responded that a working group can have different focuses within its charter. Any of these could be a good next focus for this WG. He recommended finding a couple of interesting topics to look into at the upcoming RIPE Meetings rather than focusing on the charter.
Peter and Jim Reid both agreed on the comments.
Jim reminded the Working Group that it was originally formed as a mechanism for the community to provide consultations with the RIPE NCC, which was being asked to answer questions about IoT. He said that it was important to remember that Working Group also exists for the community to give guidance to the RIPE NCC when it needs to provide responses to consultations or in EU meetings.
E. Co-Chair Selection
Peter Steinhauser, Sandoche Balakrichenan
Sandoche was thanked for his work as co-Chair of the IoT Working Group. Peter Wehrle was welcomed as the new co-chair. Peter introduced himself and thanked the WG for accepting him as co-Chair.