Building a Decentralized and Uncensored Internet

Nexus is a community-driven, non-profit blockchain and contracts platform.

Nexus.io publishes an architectural plan for the construction of a decentralized and uncensored Internet

On July 10, 2021, the White Paper on the Nexus protocol was released. the new internet will be driven by a blockchain-based operating system (LX-OS) and communication protocol (Nexus Protocol), which will be connected by a mesh network distributed by satellite. The white paper contains technical specifications and mathematical models that present and prove the viability, value proposition and practicality of this new architectural framework.

Network Architecture

Web 3.0 or Decentralized Web (DWeb), was invented as the next evolution of the Internet, with the promise of emancipating digital communication by reducing our dependence on a few selected companies and technologies, to ultimately decrease the dominance conglomerates. The Nexus protocol goes one step further, decentralizing and democratizing network infrastructure hardware and software. A network of tokenized micro-satellites, ground stations and phased array antennas forms the backbone of the infrastructure, which will provide an alternative to centralized Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Tokenized micro-satellite constellations will offer individuals the possibility of owning part of the physical infrastructure of the Internet, strengthening equity and participating in decentralized governance . The micro-satellites will operate in many low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations to provide low latency and open access to the Nexus protocol on a global scale. The white paper says future documentation will provide additional specifications, including the minimum number of satellites required to form an initial network and constellation simulations. An additional satellite value proposition is the inclusion of the upcoming Nexus LLD file system capacity that will allow individuals to negotiate inter-entity hosting contracts and generate a direct return on investment (ROI) from the flash memory available. Here is a summary of the design:

Each constellation is represented by a unique set of fungible tokens created on Nexus. Ownership and optional voting rights are maintained by the equity represented by these tokens. by the constellation are automatically distributed to owners through token rewards. Direct economic benefits are provided to entities that deploy satellites, in the same way that mining spurs the building of a blockchain. Micro-satellites will provide reputation-based network services to complement the routing system between ground stations and their aggregate clients.

Figure 1: Simulation of Starlink orbital models [1]

Ground stations will operate in a cell-type topology, doing most of the heavy network processing and providing localized content, edge computing and routing services. While phased array antennas will be used to maintain the link with the micro-satellites in LEO. This type of antenna is electrically steered and can achieve high gains and mobility, which is why it was chosen for sustained two-way communication between satellites and ground stations. In terms of end-user access, two standards are currently under study: local Wi-Fi hot-spots and cellular LTE technology.

The ground infrastructure will provide content delivery services to local networks, which will allow ground station operators to generate a return on investment. Operators will be able to offer geospatial caching services, in order to provide a range of content delivery speeds to their local customers.

Figure 2: Architectural diagram of search, mapping and retrieval -encapsulation [2]

Frequency allocation is crucial to ensure that the Nexus protocol achieves the goal of a free and open protocol, without restriction or ownership of a only part. To achieve this, it will use the 5.8 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band which does not require a license or has limits on antenna gains. The white paper also contains mathematical proof of the viability of modeling links within the restrictions of the selected ISM band.

Table 1: ISM frequencies available worldwide without restriction [2]

Operating System

LX-OS, a Nexus operating system (OS) specifically designed for the Nexus protocol, is currently under development for strengthen hardware abstractions, security requirements and reduce overall risk to on-board devices, micro-satellites and consumer hardware. These security qualities are enhanced by leveraging the Nexus blockchain for user authentication and information verification. The LX-OS will initially be released for micro-satellites and IoT devices, each widely known for their vulnerabilities. These industries can benefit greatly from the enhanced protection and dynamic management capabilities.

Game Theory

The components of the infrastructure are elegantly woven with a pattern economic designed to feed the many sources of income, to provide humanity with free access to Internet services worldwide while creating universal economic opportunities. This is reinforced by mathematical models that resist monopolization by demonetizing predatory behaviors, thereby increasing incentives for cooperatives.

Figure 3: Comparison of the laws of Sarnoff, Metcalfe and de Reed [3]

A New Internet

The Nexus protocol fits into the TAO Framework, a seven-layer software stack that enables the simplified implementation of smart contracts, DApps, tokens and assets (NFTs) through a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

In accordance with true open source crypto values, to preserve the white paper as a open specification, it was time stamped and registered on the Nexus blockchain under the US blockchain asset name: NP-WP. The raw information about the blockchain assets is shown below and available to the public through the Nexus API.

 { "result": { "owner", "a1bc1623d785130bd7bd725d523bd2bb755518646c3831ea7cd5f86883845901", "created": 1608574805, "modified": 1610222781, "address", "88Pnob1imCyeV8gCDd681HLjnVdM4mBa6E1HnYeGZR2hEmqqy2P", "checksum": "3bfc2b9d22b03d2cd02ffb88a216a5962d8b1f1090d407a2a44ad2808659ccf4", "description": " [PDF] Nexus Protocol - White Paper Specification Document ”,” release ”:” https://github.com/Nexusoft/NP-WP/releases/download/1.0.0/Nexus_Protocol_1.0.0.pdf "," version ": "1.0.0"}} 

[1] LEO satellite networks: https://leosatsim.github.io/

[2] Nexus 1.0.0 protocol: https: //github.com/Nexusoft/NP-WP/releases/download/1.0.0/Nexus_Protocol_1.0.0.pdf

[3] The Network Effects Bible: https://medium.com/@ nfx / the-network-effects-bible-c6a06b8ae75b

Nexus.io is a community project with the common vision of a world inspired by innovation and responsible values, a technology expansive and the fundamental quality of the connection being ubiquitous, free and accessible open to all.

Previously posted at https://www.publish0x.com/nexus-blockchain-technical-articles/building-a-decentralized-and-uncensorable- internet-the-nexus-xvwygpe