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Muni-Fi: An Explosive Trend
Incumbents can't beat 'em, join 'em...
The Wall Street Journal today explores how many incumbent broadband providers who were fighting municipal broadband projects, are now rushing to get involved in the phenomenon. Time Warner Cable, AT&T, and Cox are all working with municipalities to provide city-Wi-Fi services. According to this Networking Pipeline report, municipal Wi-Fi networks will cover 126,000 square miles, utilize one million wireless mesh routers, and generate revenues of over $1.2 billion by 2010.
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vdiv
Premium Member
join:2002-03-23
Reston, VA

vdiv

Premium Member

Explosive?

How is this development new or explosive? Isn't it good?

RayW
Premium Member
join:2001-09-01
Layton, UT

RayW

Premium Member

Re: Explosive?

said by vdiv:

How is this development new or explosive? Isn't it good?
New and explosive in that instead of SUING to stop it, they are partnering with the cities to prevent the competition from partnering?

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

3 edits

FFH5

Premium Member

Defensive move by telcos & cable cos.

Combined the telcos and the cable companies annual revenues are running about $350 billion/yr right now(from Morningstar industry analysis). The $1.2 billion projected revenue from WiFi isn't something that has drawn those 2 industries to WiFi networks. Getting into city-wide WiFi is more about making sure competitors like Earthlink and Google and others don't get a big foothold with end users and then leverage that foothold into wired access competition. And if they make a little money along the way - that is all gravy.
»www.morningstar.com
»www.ustelecom.org/index. ··· om_stats

G_Poobah
join:2004-01-17
Schenectady, NY

G_Poobah

Member

Re: Defensive move by telcos & cable cos.

"Those economics are a real threat to the large telecom and cable companies, which is why they initially fought hard to stop city-based networks. But the telecom companies' recent regulatory efforts have been unsuccessful. AT&T, for example, lost a battle in the Texas state legislature last year and another last week in Indiana. Last year, of the 14 pieces of legislation the telecom companies backed in states, they scored only one victory"

They are losing left and right with their attempts to buy the laws. Because the public sees the greed for the first time. When you can get the AARP (35 million votes, who won't be ignored by congress) to very publicly state that Net Neutrality is required, the politicians will listen. It's democracy over capitalism for a change. Of course, this is only happening because that dumbass Whitmore came out and said 'We are going to rape the consumer for as much as possible'. Umm, what kind of reaction was he expecting to get?
SunnyFL8
Premium Member
join:2001-02-08

SunnyFL8

Premium Member

And this is supposed to be new news?

Bright House Networks has looked into wireless broadband already via telephone pole in certain areas. I hear talks of cell phone technology similar to SKYPE. Hmmm makes sense that they are looking for a wireless network. Also found out they deployed fiber to business door based on need, Tampa always the test market. Fiber speeds like 5/5 just to start for business account only. Thanks to Verizon Fios, keeping Bright House on the ball.
GhostDoggy
join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA

GhostDoggy

Member

Liabilities?

If a criminal act occurs on a municipal broadband network will the municipality be held accountable (liable)? Could a victim file a civil suit and bankrupt the city?