Choosing the Right Business Model for Municipal Wireless Networks (Strategy Focus)

Publication Date	July 2007
Publisher	Datamonitor
Product Type	Brief
Pages	16
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	DAT05978

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Summary

Introduction

Local governments are experimenting with municipal wireless networks to provide constituents with wireless internet access in outdoor areas of a community.

Scope

Analysis of various business models used to support municipal wireless deployments
Profiles of leading vendors serving the municipal wireless market
Advice for governments and vendors evaluating municipal wireless plans

Highlights

As the market for municipal wireless networks matures, governments and vendors have developed a variety of business models to deliver the best value for their communities. When approaching municipal wireless projects, it is critical that municipalities form strong partnerships, drawing from a dynamic ecosystem of public and private sector entities.

This report evaluates three leading business models developed to support municipal wireless initiatives the completely public model, the public-private partnership model, and the anchor tenant model.

In addition, this report profiles some of the leading vendors that form the ecosystem for municipal wireless networks.

Reasons to Purchase

Understand the public and private entities that form the ecosystem for municipal wireless networks
Compare your strategies to those used by leading vendors in the municipal wireless market
Validate your market messaging and positioning in the municipal wireless market

Content

Datamonitor View
Catalyst
Summary
Methodology
Analysis
- Business models and ecosystems are critical factors in municipal wireless efforts
- Success of a municipal wireless initiative depends on its supporting business model
- The completely public model offers local governments total authority over their municipal wireless network
- A public-private partnership allows municipalities and service providers to focus on their core strengths
- An anchor tenant relationship promises the most success for municipal wireless networks
- Choosing the right partners is crucial for municipal wireless networks
- Services providers lead the move towards public-private partnerships
- AT&T extends its DSL business with municipal wireless
- BT partners with 12 UK cities for municipal wireless
- EarthLink offers municipal wireless via public-private partnerships with local governments
- MetroFi partners with local governments for municipal wireless projects
- The Cloud provides an open wireless network for municipalities and service providers
- US Internet builds municipal wireless networks in public-private partnerships
- Networking companies provide the backbone of municipal wireless networks
- Alvarion provides WiMAX equipment for backhaul
- BelAir Networks's multi-radio equipment create mesh networks
- Firetide equipment enables mesh networks
- Nortel equipment and applications support municipal wireless
- PacketHop extends fixed mesh networks
- Proxim Wireless increases focus on mesh networks
- SkyPilot's primary focus is municipal wireless
- Strix Systems manufactures multiple-radio equipment
- Tropos Networks takes a software-based approach
- Content providers, search engines and systems integrators also play important roles in municipal wireless
- Google attempts to bring attention to the municipal wireless market
- IBM acts as a systems integrator on municipal wireless projects
- LastMile Communications delivers local content over municipal wireless networks
Actions
- Require the municipality to commit to the network as an anchor tenant
- Clarify the boundaries of overlapping responsibilities early to ensure end-user satisfaction
- Enter into an agreement with a joint understanding of the municipality's assets
Appendix
- Definitions
- Extended methodology
- Further reading
- Ask the analyst
List of Figures
- Figure 1: In a municipally-owned model, the local government acts as the service provider
- Figure 2: A public-private model allows each entity to concentrate on its strengths
- Figure 3: An anchor tenant relationship provides the municipality and the service provider with more influence over the network's design
- Figure 4: The ecosystem for municipal wireless