Municipal Wireless 2.0The King is Dead, Long Live the King!

Ken Biba

March 30, 2009

Copyright Novarum 2009

Novarum Wireless Broadband Review We went out and measured reality rather than hyped

fantasy We tested most of the major city wide wireless networks and

compared them to cellular data networks and WiMAX. 7 WiMax networks 45 WiFi networks 95 Cellular networks

Analyzed the performance of Metro Wi-Fi, Cellular and WiMAX Testing from user perspective Performance validation Coverage validation Technology assessment Business model insight

Independent validation of wireless broadband services Service availability, performance, value, ease of use

Muni Wireless 1.0 is Over Thank Goodness! Municipal wireless and Wi-Fi mesh hype was getting out

of hand

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Lots of failures… end of 1.0

Technology and Business Models now proven

What went wrong with 1.0?

The impracticality of a free lunchImpossible expectationsFew concrete applicationsPoor contracts

Requirements not clear and not measurableFree is not a sustainable business model

The perils of technology hypeFantasy business models met overhyped

productsMostly poor networks with 2x underinvestment in

infrastructurePoor understanding of effects of scale4

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What went right with 1.0?Commitment works

Business critical connectivity applications work wellPublic safety, parking meters, internal municipal

communicationsFoundation for innovation

Citizen Internet access

Technology works when hype strippedWireless superb extension to wireBest 2008 WiFi networks outperform hyped

2010 WiMax networksAnd 802.11n will make 2010 WiFi networks even

betterWiFi with 802.11n has perhaps 5:1 capital cost

advantage over WiMax (2009)

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Some Data

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Cellular data has doubled performance to last two yearsAbout same performance as common DSL500 kbps up, 1000-1500 kbps down

2009 Mobile WiMax appears to be about 1-2x current 3G performance

< 400 kbps down, 1500-2000 kbps down Best deployed 2008 muni WiFi is 2-3x cellular and WiMax2000 kbps up and 3000 kbps downMinneapolis, Toronto, others

802.11n will drive 2010 capacity up 2-4x and cost 2x down10 Mbps+ performance$100k/mi2 for WiFi vs $500K/mi2 for WiMax

Foundation for Wireless 2.0Investment, not Freedom from cost

No one cares about things we get for freeAnchor must be essential, committed municipal

services

Caution in navigating technology hypeWireless is an EXTENSION of wire and depends

on an extensive wired infrastructureWiFi 1.0 overhyped, underdelivered and now ready

to be superlative (802.11n!!!!!)WiMax overhyped and soon to underdeliver in turn

Superlative networks CAN be built and operated

Trust but VerifyDemand performance audit

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Coming Attractions

Novarum Independent 3G/4G Cellular TestNO ONE has ever published anything as

complete13 US Cities, 300 locations, over 5000 testsExhaustive user perspective testingMajor US cellular and WiMax providersComing soon

Novarum 802.11n Enterprise TestingEnterprise access pointsEnterprise scale testing (multiple APs, many

clients, many applications)8

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