1. Stimulating Rural WiMAX
Rural Deployment Examples & Alternatives
John H. Longo
Principal, Broadband Market Visions
September 1, 2009
Mobile:

2. Fixed WiMax / WiFi 4K to 8K Wireless ISPs
Fixed WiMax, pre-WiMax, and WiFi deployments
Antennas fixed and tuned to maximize bandwidth and QOS
Services: fixed VoIP, portable VoIP and broadband internet
Speeds: 512 Kbps to 3 Mbps symmetrical
Locally owned and operated
Cottage industry deployments to fill market voids
Less successful: “Field of Dreams” marketing
Penetration rates of ~10%
Challenge: maintain customers and profitability as alternatives become available

3. Portable WiMax 802.16e mobile WiMax standard
Traditional cellular service type deployments
Portable deployments within served communities with customer installed CPE
Services: portable voice and broadband internet
Speeds: 500 – 768 Kbps up / 1.5 to 2.5 Mbps down
Locally focused, community marketing including schools, police and businesses
Average population: 10K per community
Penetration rates > %
Challenge: long-term evolution to full 4G mobile service with roaming agreements and national or global coverage

4. Fiber to the Home Fiber to the premises deployment
Privately held for profit company with 40% of stock held by non-profit entities in the community
Services: voice, video, broadband internet, adding mobile voice
Speeds: up to 100 Mbps (1 Gbps possible)
Communities of 900 to 30K
Locally focused marketing and customer service, including local community offices, local employees, and local video content,
Video leads service adoption; voice and internet are add-on services that provide the greater margins
Rural requires >50% penetration; example operation 70% - 80% with prices above incumbent
Challenges: high penetration rates; providing local content

5. Non-profit Broadband Operator
Operates variety of technologies to serve non-profit community needs, including purchased and donated fiber, leased facilities, WiMax and WiFi networks
Services & speeds: ultra broadband up to gigabit speeds
Non-profit with some co-investment in projects by customers
Target schools, medical facilities, and public institutions
Focus on serving community needs and programs
Demonstrated the use of shared infrastructure with WiFi and WiMax built on fiber infrastructure
Hybrid public safety with public access
3.65 Ghz WiMax layer for backhaul and institutional service
4.9 Ghz WiMax public safety spectrum
2.4 Ghz WiFi public access

6. WiMax as a Broadband Solution
Short-term
Quick and economical as fixed broadband
Initial deployment for fiber networks
Portable provides mobile-like capabilities in advance of mobile service
Longer-term
Wireless/portable service alternative for fixed broadband operations
Full mobile 4G service with broad coverage
Solution for hard to reach locations
Community focused marketing is critical

7. Broadband Market Visions
Thank You…
John H. Longo
Principal & Industry Analyst
Mobile: