Is Sprint's Third Pipe
Providing Third-rate Access?

Quick installations and speedy technical support have earned Sprint broadband service many fans, but needy customers complain about speedbumps obstructing wireless network traffic to the Net.

by Jim Wagner [January 25, 2001]

While cable modem and digital subscriber line providers contend for first-to-market leverage over each other, a third high-speed alternative has quietly emerged on the broadband scene. Would-be users anxious to abandon DSL delays or forsake local cable monopolies find this novel wireless option alluring.

This new method of delivering wire-free broadband access has provoked contemptuous murmurs among wire-based rivals and generated a buzz among consumers lacking access to high-speed services What's this technological high-speed breakthrough that has everyone so excited?

Rooted in wire-free LANs, melded with RF engineering, and praised as the potential solution for high-speed rural access—its fixed wireless Internet services—and it's taking the nation by storm.

Third dimension
So is fixed wireless technology the broadband savior it's acclaimed to be? When asked, many independent Internet service providers would emphatically say, "yes" while proclaiming that fixed wireless access is a profitable way to reduce reliance on local carriers for purveying DSL services.

Currently, Sprint is the leading communications company that's embraced the possibilities of deploying a nationwide wire-free high-speed network, which means it will also be the first firm to discover the technical nuances and nuisances fundamental to fixed wireless broadband services.

The idea to build a Third Pipe connecting wireless high-speed networks may be sexy, but Sprint will have to curb conveying erratic speed performance in order to capture the devotion of residential broadband users.

Commendable observations
While consumer forums have publicly praised Sprint's setup and service response times—a tremendous advantage over waiting weeks for a DSL connection—many say, speed and consistency issues remain a sticking point.

San Jose resident Jim Schrempp was lured by the wire-free siren's song and switched to a fixed wireless system last month. Eager to escape the frustrations of DSL access, Schrempp cut the wires and converted to Sprint Broadband Direct.

Disparaging declarations
After a surprisingly quick installation, Schrempp said that he soon ran into problems with his fixed wireless service—namely, inconsistent upload speeds.

"About a month ago I had Sprint installed. Since then the upload speed goes from blindingly fast, to very slow," Schrempp said. "While Sprint advertises 'upload speeds as high as 256kb,' the service techs tell me anything over 40kb is considered 'within spec.' "

"It seems like false advertising to me," Schrempp said. "I might be happy with a consistent 40kb upload, but my line often tests out at 13kb or even 7kb. I'd be better off with a 9600 baud modem."

"In the wireless world, a system that is poorly designed or massively over-subscribed will function just like in a wired network, causing a myriad of problems. Slow speeds and dependable connectivity being two of the more obvious problems," Schafer said.

"The radio waves are fast and distances fairly short, in relation to satellite or wire line services, so there is no reason for ping times to be slow on a well-designed fixed wireless system," he added.

Sprint's broadband division has been deploying its fixed wireless network for more than a year using multi-channel multi-point distribution technology. Sprint Broadband Direct is currently available in 12 U.S. markets, however the company filed for 45 additional licenses to operate fixed wireless services in August, so Sprint is poised to extend high-speed services throughout the nation.

Fix in the mix
Evan Conway, Sprint broadband division vice president of marketing, conceded that speed fluctuations are an issue for the service, but said improvements are on the way to alleviate network congestion.

"As far as the speed issue, that's something that we're looking at improving immediately," Conway said. "In the next 30 to 60 days, customers are going to see two things from us with their wireless connection—improved upload speeds and improved latency—especially in areas with the most customers.

"What's out there right now is basically our first generation of wireless equipment, and we feel that it's performed remarkably well," Conway continued. "In general, we're very pleased with the rollout. We proved a basic tenant of fixed wireless service—that it works.

" We're getting ready for our second generation of equipment by the end of the year, which will improve peer capacity, line of sight requirements and offer voice over IP services" Conway added.

Endurance test
Most Internet access providers would agree with the concept that success kills. What Sprint has experienced is not a novel business phenomenon exclusive to the Internet industry. When consumer demand for goods or services surpass supply—problems abound.

Broadband consumers are no more demanding than the average customer waiting in line for a burger, but they are fickle—quick to possess the latest high-speed solution—only to abandon it in frustration at the first sign of trouble.

A word to the wise on all sides of the fixed wireless broadband phenomena—be patient. This is just the start of something big!

—End