News

Fixed Wireless Provider Hits Big Time

A fledgling Southern California wireless Internet vendor joins forces with cable giant to create an unlikely but promising hybrid broadband service offering.

by Ted Stevenson 80211-Planet Executive Editor [March 4, 2003]

As of last Tuesday, Time Warner Cable of San Diego is offering fixed-wireless broadband Internet. What? Yup; you heard right: Wireless from Time Warner Cable.

The answer to this apparent riddle is wholesale BWA (broadband wireless access) provider SkyRiver.net, which has been selling its "enhanced" 802.11b service to area systems integrators, computer consultants, and—of more interest here —local ISPs, since the fall of 2000.

T/W Cable is merely the latest—and most prominent—member of SkyRiver's customer base, which consists of nearly 60 local providers and resellers.

Commenting on the significance of the deal, Director of Sales Eric DeVersa said in a brief ISP-Planet interview, "This is the only partnership we know of between a broadband wireless service provider and a major MSO [multiple service operator]. Moreover, it signals our acceptance—as a product—by a big-time ISP in the San Diego area. We have arrived."

SkyRiver claims a coverage area of approximately 700 square miles for its San Diego County-based network. The service, which offers connection speeds as high as 2.5 Mbps, is targeted primarily to small- and medium-sized businesses.

Trent Anderson, SkyRiver's CEO, stated, "SkyRiver's network carrier model creates a strong business case for Time Warner to partner with us in San Diego. Rather than going to the expense of building their own wireless infrastructure and learning the nuances of managing a wireless network, Time Warner can generate immediate cash flow by becoming a retail distribution partner."

The wireless service facilitates network expansion into areas not previously served by broadband—areas that lack existing cable modem or dedicated wire-line infrastructure. An additional benefit claimed by SkyRiver is ease and speed of implementation.

Time Warner Cable's VP of Engineering, Steve McMahon, confirms this. "Our business services division has had to turn away a significant amount of the cable business inquiries we receive, McMahon said. "Very often, servicing the premises of those enquiring would require months of city approvals to dig up the streets, combined with high capital expenditures. With SkyRiver, we won't have to turn away as many prospective customers—and we can be invoicing them within three days."

—End