[CAnet - news] Municipal Broadband: Resistance is Futile

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[For the record I am remain skeptical of municipal wifi. Despite all the
hoopla there has been no large roll out of Wifi across any large city to
date.  Most actual Wifi have been deployments in small cities and usually in
the downtown core.  Managing a large WiFi Internet network is not trivial.
It might be useful for those who surf the Internet from city parks --BSA]



>From Wi-Fi Planet --
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3580231

Municipal Broadband: Resistance is Futile
By Eric Griffith

January 26, 2006

Broadband networks offered or facilitated by municipalities 
are going to become the norm, not the exception, according to 
analyst Pam Duffey with visiongain.

The London, England-based company's new report, "Municipal 
Broadband Networks: Market impact and implications, 2006-2011" 
talk about the facts  there 400 cities and regions thinking 
about installing wireless broadband networks across the globe 
and  100 that are actually doing it, 40 of which are in the 
United States  and makes the prediction that the numbers will 
double this year.

Legal opposition in some states not withstanding, Duffey says 
in a statement that, "We believe resistance toward Muni 
networks is futile." She says municipalities providing the 
network, or at least the means for a widespread broadband, is 
quickly becoming not just an option, but a duty.

"By 2010/2011," says Duffey, "we believe the majority of 
cities and townships in the US will have a municipal wireless 
network in place and the focus then will be in uniting them 
into a seamless, if not centralized, national network." Many 
will offer wireless broadband service as a utility along with 
gas, electricity and water.

Of course, opposition will continue, especially when the 
prediction includes lost of money for incumbent carriers who 
could lose money over things like fees for gaming. Issues in 
deployment could easily include the lack of experience cities 
have in such technologies, though that could be mitigated by 
opening up access to third parties for hardware deployment on 
city owned poles and buildings, and to ISPs to provide 
services. Providers that are smart can take advantage of the 
opportunities of muni-wireless, rather than try to fight such 
deployments up front.


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These news items and comments are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect
those  of the CANARIE board or management.


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