WIRELESS WISH

The recent FCC decision to not regulate voice over IP as a standard telephone service was a big win for the Vonages of the world, but it also granted new validity to the voice ambitions of hundreds of wireless ISPs. The wireless ISP market has not been acknowledged as having plans to provide voice services. Mostly, these companies are viewed as indirect competition to the data-oriented DSL and cable modem services provided by telcos and cable TV companies. The wireless ISPs themselves don't have that view — they see beating the telcos and cable firms at the broadband game as the core of their business. With the advent of IP-based voice over wireless LAN solutions, many of them also have hopes to become more than data providers. Watchers of the wireless ISP market say these firms were watching the FCC's decision on VoIP very closely, and are elated with the result. The wireless ISPs have aggressively built small but impressive networks, using innovative non-line-of-sight solutions and other technologies. Now they stand to do the same with VoIP. Individually, these companies might be difficult for telcos and cable companies to take seriously as competition, but in many markets around the country, their numbers are filling out to nine or 10 in major metro areas. In some cases, they are also learning to cooperate with each other to solve interference issues, and even to co-market services. As an aggregate, and capable of offering voice to customers, the wireless ISPs might soon be ready to deliver a punch that bigger operators don't see coming.