Atlanta gets high-speed wireless data

UltimateCom says its multipoint distribution service, launched first in Atlanta last week, offers high-speed wireless Internet access at two to three times less than landline start-up costs and 20% less than the ongoing cost of a landline alternative.

Targeting the 40 largest cities in the U.S. and hoping to roll out in the 10 largest cities during the next 18 months, UltimateCom's cable modem-based service operates in the 2.5 GHz range in Atlanta but can operate in any frequency band.

"It's a very flexible technology," said John Taylor, founder and CEO. The Denver-based company recently acquired space in a low-power television frequency in Phoenix, possibly the next rollout location. While the current service in Atlanta is one-way with cable modems provided by Cupertino, Calif.-based Hybrid Networks, UltimateCom can offer two-way service.

The company will target businesses employing between 15 and 60 people that have some heavy Internet users. Rather than replacing landline access, UltimateCom hopes to serve the users in businesses that download large amounts of data from the Internet, leaving landline for light users.

"We consider ourselves a complementary service [to landline]," said Taylor.

However, John Nitzke, senior analyst with Forrester Research, Cambridge, Mass., is skeptical of the viability of MDS."Local multipoint distribution service is going to sweep away MDS," he said.