Broadband wireless poised for takeoff

Wireless broadband data carriers are ramping up for service rollouts, using sophisticated point-to-multipoint equipment. Several companies, including Advanced Radio Telecom and WinStar, recently made significant strides toward building networks.

ART said last week that Lucent Technologies agreed to serve as a network systems integrator, procuring equipment and offering technical support for ART's nationwide network. "We made this deal because we didn't want to spend lots of time and money on what we consider a one-off effort: building a network," said Harry Hirsch, chairman and CEO of ART.

ART's strategy differs from some other broadband fixed wireless data companies' plans. Rather than refer to its solution as a last-mile solution, as many carriers do, ART prefers to call itself a first-mile provider. "First-mile is looking from the customer premises out," he said.

ART hopes to deploy in Seattle, Phoenix and Portland, Ore., by the end of the year.

In other broadband wireless news, WinStar announced last week a multiyear agreement with Hughes Network Systems for point-to-multipoint equipment. "Working together closely and designing it together has helped us both optimize," said David Ackerman, executive vice president at WinStar.

Hughes' time division multiple access equipment lets WinStar shift the amount of bandwidth to any building without changing equipment, said Suresh Arora, vice president and general manager of broadband networks for Hughes.