The Future of Municipal Wireless Networks (Executive Briefing)

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 forces driving and inhibiting municipal wireless initiatives
• Spending on municipal wireless networks in the US and UK through 2012
• Advice for governments and vendors evaluating municipal wireless applications
• Analysis of various business models used to support municipal wireless deployments

Highlights

While still a nascent trend, communities around the world are investing in municipal wireless networks to improve government effectiveness, broaden digital inclusion and support economic development. The most successful communities will focus on accomplishing a primary goal before expanding to offer more services over the network.

As the market for municipal wireless networks matures, municipalities and technology vendors have developed a variety of business models to deliver the best value for their communities. Three leading business models are the completely public model, the public-private partnership model, and the anchor tenant model.

Because communities are developing municipal wireless networks to improve the effectiveness of government operations, it is critical that they select the proper applications to run on those networks

Reasons to Purchase

• Understand the market forces affecting the adoption of municipal wireless networks
• Gain quantitative insight into the projected direction of municipal wireless spending
• Understand types of applications local governments and service providers are deploying on municipal wireless networks