Unfortunately, WISPCON has not evolved with the industry...
By attendance, maybe he hasn't. But I'd argue, he's attempting to. His show
topics were very different than previous shows, attempting to evolve/expand
to the enw relevent market segments which utilize Wireless technology. SO
he may not have yet EVOLVED, but he is EVOLVING.
Tom DeReggi
RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband
----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Wu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 10:09 AM
Subject: RE: [WISPA] Wireless ISP's
IMO, a lot of it has to do with changes within the industry and the
perception of what a "WISP" is...
The technical definition of a WISP is a Wireless Internet Service Provider,
or anyone who puts a stick up somewhere (tower, AP, etc) and delivers
broadband service via wireless medium to customer endpoints (fixed or
mobile). If you think about it, Marlon is just as much of a WISP as is
Travis Johnson as is Tom DeReggi as is the Rural Telco using wireless as is
XO as is Clearwire.
However, the perception of a "WISP" is more so than just a wireless service
provider, over time, the definition of a "WISP" has evolved to represent a
specific type of service provider. Specifically, for better or for worse,
the broader industry has come to classify the "WISP" as a "cowboy" startup
operator who builds his POPs with duck-tape and bailing wire and is using
unlicensed frequencies to "rebel" against the Telco / Cableco.
Reality is a bit different...Motorola Canopy shipped their 1 millionth SM
last April, the Pew report from last year gave a number representing that
5-6% of all broadband subscribers in the United States are being serviced by
Broadband Wireless...reality is that a lot of people like Travis Johnson or
Jon Langeler or Tom DeReggi or Jon Scrivner (and probably at least 60% of
this listserv) have businesses that are going concerns and run reliable and
professional broadband wireless networks, make an honest and decent living
and are still growing at a pretty nice rate.
So here's the interesting part
A lot of you who know me from the years know that I started a WISP in the
Chicago land area back in the late 90s, and that I sold the network in late
2004 (if you didn't, you know now). The people who bought my WISP were
former Telco / CLEC guys (the main guy was the former president of Nextlink
USA / XO Communications). After buying my network, they did an interesting
rebranding initiative...they were no longer a "WISP" -- rather, they call
themselves an "independent wireless network operator." -- results of this
rebranding initiative (and by wearing suits), they raised $3.5 million and
tripled ARPU growth and are doing, IMO, a pretty good job dominating the
market here.
Are we splitting hairs...perhaps, but in many instances...perception is
reality
For example -- when the industry hears "Wireless Network Operator" -- they
think of the following types of companies
www.bobbroadband.com
www.nextweb.net
www.airband.com
www.metrobridge.com
When the industry hears "WISP" -- they think of the following types of
companies
www.foxvalley.net
www.wtconnect.com
www.qisconsulting.com
www.coolaccess.net
Now, the reality of the situation is that both "types" of companies are
doing EXACTLY the same thing, and in most cases, both "types" of companies
do it EXACTLY the same way (same type of infrastructure, same quality
network, etc). but for many (specifically the more profitable higher ARPU
"mainstream" customers), product packaging is as important as product
quality.
What I've seen is that as the industry has matured and grown, a lot of
people this "WISP" category, being smart business people, have realized this
and are (consciously or unconsciously) trying to move their business from
being perceived as a "WISP" to being perceived as a "Wireless Network
Operator"
So what does all this have to do with the topic at hand?
The original question was as follows
I was just wandering. I have heard that wireless ISP's are on the
decline and most of the ones that remain are selling out or just
holding there own. Is that true? I heard there were not as many at
the last wispcon due to that.
To answer that, WISPCON has always been more of an informal type show, and
can be seen as a reflection of the state of the "WISP" cowboy -- to answer
the question, yes, the number of "startup cowboys" is definately on the
decline. However, this is not due to the industry "shrinking" or WISPs
"failing" -- but rather, it has occured b/c of the evolution of the "WISP"
from "boot-strapped startup" to "going concern."
Unfortunately, WISPCON has not evolved with the industry...
-Charles
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