Fixed-Wireless: A Method
For Broadband Internet Access—page 3

Local expertise
No one knows the demographics of your particular market or geographical area better than you. So only you can make the difficult decisions about which brand of equipment to buy, who to buy your gear from, and how much to charge customers for your fixed wireless installation and monthly service.

Sure, you could hire a RF consultant to help you make some of the difficult choices—which is probably a good idea if you don't have a radio background or live in a very densely populated area. But a reputable equipment distributor could also provide you with the help necessary to get started—mindful that they may be biased toward solutions they offer.

Be prepared to make hard decisions and be willing to stand by them—long term—just like a telco would stand behind their network buildout. You have a tiny bit of Telco Power at your disposal. You have the ability to transport data for next to nothing and profit from selling it. Use that power wisely and act aggressively, yet professionally—just as any good ISP owner would.

To be—or not to be fixed wireless
The big question is, do you want to be one of those who ISPs that offer fixed wireless broadband access to the general public? That is, do you want to be a fixed wireless pioneer—one of those irreverent individuals that invent and reinvent fixed wireless Internet access at this early stage of the game?

My short answer for those of you who are currently operating established ISPs and have access to an existing pool of both talent and facilities is yes, absolutely! Go for it—at least in some form or another.

It's likely there is some application for fixed wireless services at your ISP operation, whether it's designing a Wireless Local Loop for a single business, or for replacing an expensive Point-to-Point (PTP) link to a POP, or just setting up high-speed portable access to your network during local tradeshows. The options of fixed wireless technology is seemingly endless!

For those of you that do not have an existing infrastructure or access to an exceptional pool of talent, I must offer you my long answer. You must endure many sleepless nights of soul-searching to determine if fixed wireless is a good course for your ISP, and ask yourself these questions:

• Are you are you willing to learn about RF characteristics?
• Can you unravel TCP/IP routing networking principles in order to grow your network?
• Do you have a RF engineering background and the systems or networking skills to fully create a totally new service without any help from a RBOC?

If not—and I know I didn't—you must be willing to devote considerable time and energy into learning the ropes. You will need to develop a talent for RF calculations, add an understanding of Electrical Code compliance to your skill set, and be capable of lugging cinder blocks to the roof! As a fixed wireless Internet access installer, you may feel more like a general contractor than an Internet service owner.

Broadband for the rest of us
Some of you may remember back when Apples slogan was "Macintosh…for the rest of us," whereby apple promised something user-friendly and intuitive compared to Microsoft.

In many instances, fixed-wireless is "broadband…for the rest of us," with perhaps the RBOCs replacing Microsoft in the equation. This is especially true for those of you operating ISPs in under serviced markets or rural communities.

But the opportunities for fixed wireless Internet access doesn't stop at Rural America. Fixed wireless systems are being deployed on the Caribbean Islands, in remote African communities, on college campuses, at airports, in towns, cities, and even ritzy hotels.

Is now the time for you to grab a piece of this seemingly luscious, cost-effective fixed wireless pie? Speaking for myself and ISPs owners like me—Yes!

I can promise you this—at the end of the day, you will feel better about your fixed wireless business, your customers, and their connections, than you have ever felt before. It's a matter of pride for your WISP, because you know that you, and only you, provide the service. You are the engineer and the pioneer providing a layer-1 link to the Internet.

—End

Fixed-Wireless: A Method For Broadband Internet Access

Go to page 1: Intro to fixed wireless <

Go to page 2: Fixed wireless Q&A <

Go to page 3: Local expertise

See part 2: Fixed-Wireless: A Method For Broadband Internet Access -
Part 2: Business Basics (Published in January 2001)

   

Related articles:
	[Dec. 8, 2000]	How to Start a Wireless ISP: Part 2
	[Dec. 1, 2000]	How to Start a Wireless ISP: Part 1