Sunday, May 08, 2005
Reviewing A Wireless Frontier
The W2i Digital Cities Convention: The Frontier of Broadband Wireless Applications was held 2-4 May in Phidelphia,PA, and some interesting items are emerging in the trade press. Put on by the Wireless Internet Institute, the convention brought together municipal and technology experts to discuss how the country is progressing in deploying advanced wireless communications services to all rural and urban residents with an emphasis on wireless technology contributions. Philadelphia was a good choice since that city is planning to deploy a city-wide wireless broadband system based on mesh networks, WiFi, and WiMax technologies.
To put a global context on why this is a timely topic, just review the ITU's New Broadband Statistics for 1 January 2005 . " The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has just released its new statistics on global broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants as of 1 January 2005. Korea and Hong Kong, China have kept the top rankings they received in 2004. The Netherlands makes an impressive move from 9th in ranking in 2004 to 3rd this year. Denmark also moves up two slots to 4th. Canada drops to 5th from 3rd in 2004. Switzerland moves from 10th in 2004 to 6th this year. Israel moves to 12th this year. The USA drops from 13th in 2004 to 16th in 2005. France has moved up fast in the rankings and is now just behind the USA followed by the UK at 15th." In real number terms, the US has 11.4 Broadband subscribers per 1oo inhabitants compared to 24.9 in Korea and 20.9 in Hong Kong or 19.4/.3 in Netherlands/Denmark. Even canada has 17.6. Interestingly, the ITU chart shows that most nations have more DSL service than Cable; it is the reverse in US.
So, we are lagging; but there are some helpful insights from the convention. This article claims the U.S. Needs Municipal Wi-Fi to Plug Broadband Wireless Gap , arguing that: "Broadband Internet access in the United States is languishing behind other countries and without municipal Wi-Fi projects the situation is only likely to get worse.
That was the consensus of industry leaders who gathered here this week to discuss the opportunity for public-private partnerships in broadband wireless at the W2i Digital Cities Convention. "
According to Tyler van Houwelingen, founder of Azulstar, a Grand Haven, Mich., company focused on mass deployment of wide area wholesale networks and services, "It's not about the network anymore. It's about the services benefiting the community. Building the network is only the first step." He predicted BPL (broadband over powerline) would be the next big area of opportunity for service providers working with municipalities. "The power here is that the network reaches 100 percent of the population," . He also described the private-public balance in cities where Azulstar has worked. "In every case so far we've funded the network and then we bring in these partners that we have established. Every time we go in, we create an affiliate company in each one of the areas so it actually is a local company thatthey're dealing with." Azulstar partnered with Meru Networks of Sunnyvale, Calif., and others on the Rio Rancho build-out.
This article announces Rio Rancho Boasts First Metro 'VOWi-Fi' Service , noting that :
"Carrier-class voice-over-Wi-Fi telephone service, the first of its kind in a U.S. metro deployment, is now available in Rio Rancho, N.M."
"By partnering with governments, technology leaders and other service providers, we are able to quickly design and deploy Wi-Fi/WiMax mobile networks and services like the one we've deployed in Rio Rancho," said Azulstar CEO Tyler van Houwelingen.
"As more cities follow Rio Rancho's lead, it's going to have a profound impact on telco and wireless industry dynamics," he said. The city's Wi-Fi "cloud" will support mobile calls up to 55 m.p.h. Roaming in and out of cellular CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks will be added later this year. "
"The service is available to businesses, residences and mobile phone users in the 505 area code, and current phone numbers will be portable. Caller ID, call forwarding, voice mail over e-mail, multiparty calling, call waiting and Web-based call control manager features are also available. It will sell to consumers for $29.95 per line for unlimited calling in the United States and Canada." That's a pretty good deal for a rural area.
This Wireless Networks article continues the theme, noting some aspects that could apply equally well to rural NE PA :
"Rio Rancho, New Mexico, brought in wireless provider OttawaWireless because incumbents didn't reach many areas, assistant city administrator Peggy McCarthy said. Now that the network is up and running, the incumbents' service has grown more competitive, she said.
"The lethargy and apathy with which we had been given DSL and cable have both changed," she said.
Some cities, including Spokane, Washington, found they could easily set up wireless service when they upgrade their emergency communications networks with a little help from the Homeland Security Department. The federal department awarded $925 million last year for communications upgrades."
That's the gist of what's been reported from the Philadelphia convention thus far. The key point is that we may need public-private partnerships to get broadband to rural areas soon. The sad part is that PA Law , under HB30, seems to hinder greatly or preclude that from happening.
I hate to end on a downbeat note. So let's look at a very positive sign. Laws can be changed and workarounds found if the need is there and the technology is available and inexpensive. This article, Intel's CEO Says WiMAX Competitive With DSL, Cable , offers a lot of hope :
" Intel Corp. Chief Executive Craig Barrett said on Friday that new wireless high-speed data technologies would be competitive with Internet links provided by cable and phone companies.
WiMAX, which should be capable of 50 megabits to 100 megabits per second, is "significantly better than what we typically look at with DSL and cable," Barrett said. "I think that will be very competitive with those technologies, and especially where those technologies aren't built out, in rural areas.
"Will it compete with wired access? Absolutely. Will it be perhaps the only broadband solution you have in some areas? Absolutely, especially in rural areas."
With Intel's muscle behind the WiMAX push, some 240 companies have joined the industry group developing WiMAX standards and equipment. Sprint Corp., and Intel said on Thursday they would cooperate on WiMAX tests. "
Now that's a better ending to this tale.
To put a global context on why this is a timely topic, just review the ITU's New Broadband Statistics for 1 January 2005 . " The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has just released its new statistics on global broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants as of 1 January 2005. Korea and Hong Kong, China have kept the top rankings they received in 2004. The Netherlands makes an impressive move from 9th in ranking in 2004 to 3rd this year. Denmark also moves up two slots to 4th. Canada drops to 5th from 3rd in 2004. Switzerland moves from 10th in 2004 to 6th this year. Israel moves to 12th this year. The USA drops from 13th in 2004 to 16th in 2005. France has moved up fast in the rankings and is now just behind the USA followed by the UK at 15th." In real number terms, the US has 11.4 Broadband subscribers per 1oo inhabitants compared to 24.9 in Korea and 20.9 in Hong Kong or 19.4/.3 in Netherlands/Denmark. Even canada has 17.6. Interestingly, the ITU chart shows that most nations have more DSL service than Cable; it is the reverse in US.
So, we are lagging; but there are some helpful insights from the convention. This article claims the U.S. Needs Municipal Wi-Fi to Plug Broadband Wireless Gap , arguing that: "Broadband Internet access in the United States is languishing behind other countries and without municipal Wi-Fi projects the situation is only likely to get worse.
That was the consensus of industry leaders who gathered here this week to discuss the opportunity for public-private partnerships in broadband wireless at the W2i Digital Cities Convention. "
According to Tyler van Houwelingen, founder of Azulstar, a Grand Haven, Mich., company focused on mass deployment of wide area wholesale networks and services, "It's not about the network anymore. It's about the services benefiting the community. Building the network is only the first step." He predicted BPL (broadband over powerline) would be the next big area of opportunity for service providers working with municipalities. "The power here is that the network reaches 100 percent of the population," . He also described the private-public balance in cities where Azulstar has worked. "In every case so far we've funded the network and then we bring in these partners that we have established. Every time we go in, we create an affiliate company in each one of the areas so it actually is a local company thatthey're dealing with." Azulstar partnered with Meru Networks of Sunnyvale, Calif., and others on the Rio Rancho build-out.
This article announces Rio Rancho Boasts First Metro 'VOWi-Fi' Service , noting that :
"Carrier-class voice-over-Wi-Fi telephone service, the first of its kind in a U.S. metro deployment, is now available in Rio Rancho, N.M."
"By partnering with governments, technology leaders and other service providers, we are able to quickly design and deploy Wi-Fi/WiMax mobile networks and services like the one we've deployed in Rio Rancho," said Azulstar CEO Tyler van Houwelingen.
"As more cities follow Rio Rancho's lead, it's going to have a profound impact on telco and wireless industry dynamics," he said. The city's Wi-Fi "cloud" will support mobile calls up to 55 m.p.h. Roaming in and out of cellular CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks will be added later this year. "
"The service is available to businesses, residences and mobile phone users in the 505 area code, and current phone numbers will be portable. Caller ID, call forwarding, voice mail over e-mail, multiparty calling, call waiting and Web-based call control manager features are also available. It will sell to consumers for $29.95 per line for unlimited calling in the United States and Canada." That's a pretty good deal for a rural area.
This Wireless Networks article continues the theme, noting some aspects that could apply equally well to rural NE PA :
"Rio Rancho, New Mexico, brought in wireless provider OttawaWireless because incumbents didn't reach many areas, assistant city administrator Peggy McCarthy said. Now that the network is up and running, the incumbents' service has grown more competitive, she said.
"The lethargy and apathy with which we had been given DSL and cable have both changed," she said.
Some cities, including Spokane, Washington, found they could easily set up wireless service when they upgrade their emergency communications networks with a little help from the Homeland Security Department. The federal department awarded $925 million last year for communications upgrades."
That's the gist of what's been reported from the Philadelphia convention thus far. The key point is that we may need public-private partnerships to get broadband to rural areas soon. The sad part is that PA Law , under HB30, seems to hinder greatly or preclude that from happening.
I hate to end on a downbeat note. So let's look at a very positive sign. Laws can be changed and workarounds found if the need is there and the technology is available and inexpensive. This article, Intel's CEO Says WiMAX Competitive With DSL, Cable , offers a lot of hope :
" Intel Corp. Chief Executive Craig Barrett said on Friday that new wireless high-speed data technologies would be competitive with Internet links provided by cable and phone companies.
WiMAX, which should be capable of 50 megabits to 100 megabits per second, is "significantly better than what we typically look at with DSL and cable," Barrett said. "I think that will be very competitive with those technologies, and especially where those technologies aren't built out, in rural areas.
"Will it compete with wired access? Absolutely. Will it be perhaps the only broadband solution you have in some areas? Absolutely, especially in rural areas."
With Intel's muscle behind the WiMAX push, some 240 companies have joined the industry group developing WiMAX standards and equipment. Sprint Corp., and Intel said on Thursday they would cooperate on WiMAX tests. "
Now that's a better ending to this tale.
