Muni wireless boom just beginning

The coming year is likely to see a boom in municipal Wi-Fi deployment, as technology and political realities converge.

Only a year ago, citywide wireless broadband was considered a relative oddity. Projects such as Philadelphia’s plan to offer free wireless Internet access drew national attention and local opposition from incumbent service providers that produced a Pennsylvania law designed to slow municipal network construction.

Today, however, dozens if not hundreds of cities nationwide are deploying or planning to deploy wireless networks in a variety of scenarios that capitalize on new applications and new mesh network designs. ISP EarthLink, which won the competition to operate Philly’s network, has made municipal networks one of its major business initiatives, and technology giant Intel continues to assist municipalities of all sizes in developing the applications that build the business case for municipal networks.

Wireless technology is taking off largely because it enables communities to offer widespread broadband access more quickly and cost-effectively than building wired networks, such as fiber optics, to each business and residence. In addition, the mobility factor is proving important as municipalities use wireless access as a means to make field workers--inspectors, meter readers and others--more efficient and to improve security, arming police officers and first responders with wireless technology as well. These applications and others provide a financial justification for many municipalities to deploy a basic wireless infrastructure, over which Internet access can then be provided.

The expectation of standards-based WiMAX gear in 2006 will only fuel the municipal wireless fire, as that will enable cities to provide higher-bandwidth services over longer distances. In its latest Digital Cities missive, Intel is projecting deployment of WiMAX in the coming year to replace current use of CDPD systems which are not interoperable.

Wireless is also proving the most viable solution in rural areas, as the Cloud Alliance, a group of ISPs and power companies in Vermont, has learned. By extending broadband access via wireless technologies into areas where cable modems and DSL access aren’t available, the companies are enabling economic development in many distant rural communities. Their efforts are being aided by the state--Vermont provided four $50,000 grants to enable construction of wireless infrastructure, such as reception towers that transfer wireless signals to the wired network.

Aurora, Ill., has budgeted $5.6 million to build a wireless network that initially will connect city workers but is expected to provide Internet access and even telephone service, according to city officials.

The prospect of delivering voice over IP over Wi-Fi or WiMAX will generate additional revenue potential for municipal wireless networks.

A muni Wi-Fi boom is not good news for incumbent service providers. As a Yankee Group study , done in mid-2005, reports, wireless access poses the greatest threat to incumbent telcos, much greater than municipal fiber optic network construction.