Emerging Wireless Technologies at Pioneer, “We wanted to help municipalities make the right decision by clarifying the regulatory and competition issues, explaining the available technological solutions, and providing them with a framework financial model.”
Although the U.S. market shows the strongest growth, the study also covers similar trends in Europe and Asia. Pioneer’s Managing Partner, Julian Rawle, commented “It looks like frustration at the United States’ relatively poor performance in broadband penetration is leading many towns, cities, and counties to take matters into their own hands. They believe that broadband access is a utility, just like water or power, and should not be the exclusive preserve of those living in affluent or easily accessible urban areas.”
The report is a comprehensive handbook for municipal CTOs, providing guidance on technologies such as FTTH (Fiber to the Home), PON (Passive Optical Networks) and Active Ethernet,Wi-Fi mesh and WiMAX, descriptions of different business models using real market values for capital and operating expenditure requirements, case studies of projects which are at various stages of implementation, profiles of key equipment vendors and solution providers, and an analysis of the regulatory issues. Based on interviews with municipal officers who have been involved in these projects, the report concludes with a detailed checklist of recommended items and actions that a municipality should follow to ensure a successful deployment.
Pioneer believes that this phenomenon provides a significant opportunity for the telecom industry, not just in the U.S. but elsewhere in the world, particularly in developing countries where the benefits of Internet connectivity to economic development are already well-documented. However, local government officials may need guidance to ensure that they select a solution which is appropriate to the needs of their particular municipality.
