Fixed Wireless Business

US Wireless Online

Meet yet another riff on the rapidly-expanding 802.11 ISP business plan. This one, operating in six U.S. states, in a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN).

by Patricia Fusco Managing Editor ISP-Planet [January 17, 2002]

US Wireless Online is a high-speed Internet access provider that utilizes emerging 802.11x technology for its wireless local area network (WLAN) deployments nationwide. From its base of operations in Atlanta, US Wireless Online owns and operates wireless metro area networks (MANs) in Kentucky, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana.

Since the company signed up its first customer in 18-months ago, US Wireless Online has deployed 82 cell sites that distribute its metro area bandwidth to more than 610 access points (APs), which in turn deliver high-speed Internet access to approximately 34,000 broadband users.

US Wireless Online delivers high-speed Internet connectivity across unlicensed spectrum operating on the 2.4 and 5.8Ghz bands. The company places small but powerful transmit/receive antennas on building rooftops or towers and beams a widespread signal toward zoned commercial and industrial areas. If a user's establishment is "painted" by this beam, the customer need only affix a small, palm-sized antenna to an interior window or on their own rooftop to pick up US Wireless Online's signal.

US Wireless Online's Network Operations Center (NOC) is located in Louisville, Kentucky. The NOC is a carrier grade facility with triple redundant power grids, Kidde and Grinnell oxygen-depleting fire suppression systems, and industrial grade Liebert UPS for backup power. Network architecture includes 6 VA Linux, 21 Compaq and 25 IBM NetFinity servers that add up to about 1 terabyte of capacity.

We're wherever you are
The company has worked in almost every environment imaginable. From large, distribution centers to sprawling college campuses and even quiet coffee shops. But one feature is inherent to any US Wireless Online system; wireless connectivity is always compatible with its specific environment.

Todd Copenhaver, US Wireless Online vice-president of sales, said the company provider three different layers of wireless broadband services.

"First, we deliver Internet services directly to clients, but our service area is restricted to where we have branch offices," Copenhaver said. "Second, we build wireless systems for businesses and ISPs anywhere in the country. And third, we deliver roaming service networks in a campus design that is capable of handling an exponential increase in users."

Fresh from a very successful debut of a massive system in Chicago, Copenhaver said the key to the company's recent success lies more in exposing broadband-less geographic areas to high-speed wireless access. New clients include conventional wired ISPs, local government agencies, and public utility corporations.

"We'll help any ISP that doesn't want to go through a DSL franchise or build a cable network from square one," Copenhaver said. "All they have to do is present us with a viable business plan, and we're there."

ISPs that want to break into the wireless access market, without breaking the bank, pay US Wireless Online a small fee to get the ball rolling after their business plan has been accepted.

"We come in and survey the geographic area and then we build the infrastructure," Copenhaver explained. "We find a single high point for access to deliver a fixed wireless backbone to the area. "We deliver the bandwidth, allowing the client to spray the area with their broadcast," he continued. "The client providers the customer premise equipment (CPE) to the end user and handles the customers and the sales side of the mix. They even do the billing. We own and manage their infrastructure for them."

US Wireless Online also negotiates all the bandwidth costs before installing its gear, which it won't charge your ISP for, either. Copenhaver said the company tries to keep start-up costs as low as possible.

"Will charge a small monthly fee for monitoring the system and equipment upgrades for a contracted term of service," Copenhaver said. "We keeps upfront costs as low as possible. For under $20,000 we can install a small residential model and keep out monthly recurring fees under $2000 a month."

Remaining startup costs for ISPs include $350 to $1,200 for CPE. US Wireless Online recommends that a small Ethernet bridge be utilized in a residential environment and a proprietary box be deployed in a business setting. But which manufacturer the ISP opts for is completely up to them, as well as what the service provider charges end users for their CPE—if anything at all.

The crafsman's USWO
After a system is installed, US Wireless Online guarantees its workmanship and the Internet connectivity of the system. The company backs this up with a 99.99 percent uptime guarantee and service level agreement (SLA) upgrades, making it an ideal wireless turnkey proposition for conventional ISPs. But most of all, US Wireless Online offers ISP operators peace of mind—allowing you to do what you do best: run your ISP.

While security issues remain a nasty little subject for all access providers (wired and wireless alike) Copenhaver assured us that US Wireless Online builds all security measures available today into its network architecture. These security measures include, but are not limited to, MAC, standard key code encryption and RADIUS accounting systems.

All assurances aside, savvy ISPs operators are not quick to buy into broadband dreams, having been burned by one or two non-profitable DSL ventures. But Copenhaver said the privately held company is in solid financial condition.

"One of the things that has kept us around for two years while other fell by the wayside is that we expand as funding dictates." He added that "2002 looks very, very good in the near-term and we had a wonderful third and fourth quarter in 2001."

—End