Wednesday, February 10, 2010
This morning, Google announced (via the Google Blog) the soon-to-come availability of their experimental fiber-optic broadband network.

"We're planning to build and test ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States."

It seems Google has gotten involved with the FCC's urge for feedback on the Broadband Plan. They open their post with future-looking and hopeful statements about a broadband world that could be. But, many are asking today: are their intentions so benign?

It's no surprise that other broadband providers could be wondering: is this the start of a new competitor in the market? And, if it is, what a competitor they would be. With access to the vast majority of internet users (via their overwhelmingly popular search engine) they could capture the internet world with their message rather quickly.

But, I'm not so sure there is much more to their efforts than just what they say. Google, ever the innovator, wants to move broadband forward. Their blog describes their intent as nearly academic--research, investigation, and trying new ideas. A few years ago, the company introduced wireless broadband to their home town at no charge for the same mission. That venture hasn't been parlayed into anything greater. Not to mention, it's not very much like Google to enter a market inconspicuously (note: their entry into the cell phone market).

So, I for one applaud Google. They invest their own cash into infrastructure and toe-dipping into a market for the purposes of greater good, it would appear--advancing broadband access, improving technologies, and getting our nation back on par with the rest of the world.

Labels: Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Google

posted by Nick Carter at 9:49 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Nearly three years ago now, my wife and I bought our first home. It's a rewarding experience, and one that is tightly woven into the "American Dream." I was (and am) very proud to be a home-owner. But, for being such a staple of American society, it is really a treacherous process where good advice is hard to find. For example: we're now getting ready to have our first child... there's classes, brochures, DVD's and hordes of mothers who offer their advice. With home buying... there seemed to be an unspoken expectation that we figure it our for ourselves.

One of the major pitfalls we fortunately avoided was in selecting a mortgage. I have banked with the same bank for my entire adult life. They gave me my first checking account, my first car loan, my small business credit when I wanted to strike out on my own... why wouldn't I get my mortgage there, too? I filled out an application, they told me my rate, and that was that. Right? Wrong!

You see, the bank I was with was very good at lending to large property owners with established credit (I'm a farm-kid... it was my dad's bank he used to finance the farm). But that wasn't me. So, where did I turn? If you're an experienced home-owner, you're already shaking your head at me. I called a mortgage broker, of course. He took my information, knew which lenders would suit my situation best, and then shopped them all for the best rate.

In short, I chose the lender that met my needs instead of paying a premium because I didn't meet one lender's needs. It's what we call a customer-centric buying experience.

Accel-Networks is the only multi-carrier wireless broadband provider in the U.S. Why does that matter? In short, Accel is the broker of wireless broadband. But, it's even more customer-centric than that. Whereas a mortgage is an all-or-nothing deal, a wireless network has multiple sites all interconnected. With Accel Networks, each location is matched to the best wireless carrier on a discreet basis, and yet Accel assimilates one network with one SLA managed by one vendor: Accel.

If you're considering wireless broadband for any or all of your applications, don't limit your options. Go with the only provider with a multi-carrier reach.

Labels: Broadband, Customer-Centric, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Multi-Carrier, Wireless

posted by Nick Carter at 6:00 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Before you conclude that this is just a shameless excuse for a geek to use his blog as a platform to rant on the latest sci-fi movie... ok, you might be partially right. But there's something to this notion. The creator(s) of the new movie Avatar had impressively imaginative minds--something lacking in films of recent. Not the least of their "inventions" was a biological broadband network of sorts, which served as the backbone to connect all life on the planet Pandora.

In effect, the fantasy world where the Na'vi people live is connected by a data network we only... well... fantasize about. The vegetation root systems interconnect to form a network backbone of impressive stature. In an early scene, we see the research crew measuring electronic transmissions through a root of a tree. Later, researcher Grace Augustine explains the significance of this find to the money-hungry corporate executive. The redundancy, reach, and shear bandwidth capabilities of the network which connects all of Pandora is beyond any human's capability to build with copper cable and fiber-optics.

Even more fascinating, however, was James Cameron's imaginitive method for how animal life forms connected to this network. Rather than with mechanical or artificial means, all animals--including the human-like Na'vi--are equipped with a special organ which serves as a universal "jack" of sorts to link into the planet's network. This bundle of nerves which grows out of all creatures' heads can link them into the planetary network, or create "peer-to-peer" connections between horse and rider, or other symbiotic relationships.

So, how does this all relate to the broadband of today? I find it fascinating to note how sci-fi has influenced reality over the past half-century. The creators of Star-Trek imagined a world where each person would have a personal wireless communication device. Now I can't buy a gallon of milk without seeing someone's blue-tooth in their ear like a peice of jewelry. Will James Cameron's personal cat5 jack ever catch on? Will the earth ever be covered with such a ubiquitous network? There is no doubt that the future of our communication lies in the data network that now covers our globe. Cameron's fantasy world, no doubt, reflects the awesome prospect of what that network could mean for our society, if indeed we can accomplish it.

Labels: Avatar, Broadband, James Cameron, Na'vi, Pandora

posted by Nick Carter at 5:01 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
To some, a broadband network means nothing more than a Cat5 cable that goes into the wall, and from there, who knows. All they know is when they're plugged in, they're online. But to the network admin, the CIO, the IT managers, the directors of information systems, and the like, that Cat5 cable is no more of the broadband network than the speedometer needle is of your car.

And since 2004, it's hard to have a conversation about an enterprise broadband network without mentioning the PCI-DSS. You see, as that yellow cable runs from your tower to the jack in the wall, there's little risk that any data will be hijacked by ill-willed intruders. But what about on the journey that packet of data takes from your office to the headquarters, hundreds of miles away? How many switches and routers does it hit? How many different networks does it traverse--from Time Warner to Verizon to the local Bell company?

Among other things (lots of other things) the PCI-DSS has put requirements in place which make it your business to know how that data is handled. Because, after all, are we really talking about the average user sending a mundane email to his aunt about Thanksgiving dinner? No, we're talking about company financials emailed to the accounting department for projections and analysis. We're talking about payroll and health benefits being sorted out by managers at locations across the country. And, of course, we know that those Cat5 cables also plug into credit card terminals, point-of-sale computers, and the ATM in the lobby.

This year, Accel Networks once again received a PCI Compliance renewal--the proverbial "nod" and "atta-boy" from the PCI and Visa CISP. Our fixed wireless broadband networks are not only built for quick deployment and cost-effective rural broadband, but we back it up with a layer 2 broadband network that you can take to the bank (literally, with cardholder data).

Labels: Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Layer 2, PCI Compliant Broadband, PCI-DSS, Rural Broadband

posted by Nick Carter at 5:53 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asked for input last month on what actually should constitute "broadband" connection speeds. The government sets a standard for what is technically considered broadband and what is not. The motivation, at least originally, was simply that we could not allow dubious tech companies to slap a road-runner emblem on a 56K modem and try to advertise it as broadband.

But the current definition was recently opened to debate by the FCC, eliciting a range of responses from those affected by any modifications. A public interest group called Free Press, urged the FCC to dramatically ramp up requirements to 5 mbps for both upstream and downstream. For a sense of perspective, that would be over 8x the current definition for downstream speed, and 25x the current upstream speed. But companies directly affected by any decision, such as Verizon Communications Inc., urged the FCC to be more conservative.

Appeals to the FCC cited competing nations' who have set the bar for broadband far higher than the U.S. However, it's important to note that the nations cited in Reuters report (France and Japan) are in fact 1/18th 1/26th the size of the U.S. respectively. The challenge of Rural Broadband presents a uniquely different landscape for technology and business in the U.S. than in most other nations on the globe.

Where do you think the bar for broadband should be set? If higher, how shall we ever get there? If the same, what will motivate carriers to improve?

Labels: Broadband, Broadband Speed, FCC, Rural Broadband, Verizon

posted by Nick Carter at 9:31 AM Link to this Article  2 Comments

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I grew up on a small farm in rural Indiana. I can tell you, as soon as I was old enough to understand business and profit, I started wondering how much it cost for one telephone pole to be erected. A digging crew, some heavy machinery, and a chemically-treated piece of lumber cut from a single tree at least 60-feet tall. Add to that the fact that there were hundreds from the nearest sub-station to our farm, and few other homes in between. Then an ice storm came and crews worked round-the-clock to restore power. How can they make any money?

That's just it. "They" didn't make money. We owned the utility together. It was called an Electric Cooperative, and it's the means by which most of the rural U.S. has gotten their electricity in the past century. So, what's the next vital utility for the development of rural communities? Without a doubt: broadband. Broadband is as vital to rural America as the electricity that powers it.

So, can we re-invent a generation-old concept to meet today's infrastructure needs? The Pacific Northwest Internet Service Everywhere (PNWISE) broadband cooperative thinks so. PNWISE is a utility cooperative--much like the electric co-op my parents belonged to--that has endeavored to bring broadband to a 4-state region in the rural Northwest.

And how are they doing it? With Fixed Wireless Broadband, of course. No need to send crews out to erect poles every 200 feet. No need to bury thousands of miles of copper cable and fiber optics in a massive terrestrial network. Fixed Wireless Broadband is the method of choice for today's broadband cooperatives like the PNWISE. It's internet for everyone at a price the member/owners can afford.

Labels: Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access

posted by Nick Carter at 7:55 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Throughout the nineties, this phenomenon of the Internet grew in unimaginable ways. From the first successful ping, to "billboards" to the first browser software your local ISP probably sold you. Today, we download browsers for free and comb unthinkable measures of web-content at broadband speeds 100x or more the first dial-up modems of yesteryear.

And then it happened. Someone realized: hey, if our phones were once used to connect our homes to Internet, can cell phone's do the same thing? Genius. Monumental. And pitifully implemented... at least at first.

As the Internet had evolved to multimedia and broadband-reliant content, the first crack at mobile broadband was based on regression. The devices couldn't handle it. The network couldn't connect it. So, let's go back. let's simplify. Let's reminisce of days gone by when functional limitations confined us to little more than plain text and a few GIF's, if you dared.

The faux pax of the telecom industry was in leaving such an indelible mark on the Internet and web development. Even as fixed wireless broadband has reached 3G and 4G speeds and mobile devices browse with virtually the same capability as desktop machines, the concept of Mobile Web hangs on. I find it most frustrating when I access sites like Amazon, Facebook, or Twitter that assume without question the device in my hand cannot handle their best content. The device, mind you, that cost almost the same as the laptop on my desk. The device, mind you, which can support cookies, as in, a cookie that says "no, take me to the good stuff in the future."

But alas, we still endure the legacy of the Mobile Web. It's a wonder they didn't start selling small picture frames to accompany the low DPI of the first camera phones.

Labels: "Internet infrastructure", Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Mobile Web

posted by Nick Carter at 7:44 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Friday, July 17, 2009
With less than 4 weeks remaining to take action on available grants and loans--all part of a federal stimulus package aimed at beefing up the nation's wired and wireless networks--many providers have yet to take action. Why? Well, these aren't exactly "no strings attached" deals.

Vice President Biden recently announced the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants, which are specifically aimed at bringing rural broadband access to un-served and underserved communities. Nonetheless, providers like CenturyTel, Inc. haven't lifted a finger to tough the funds, which could go a long way in funding their LTE network plans for the coming years. "We just don't know yet," a company spokesman told Unstrung Wednesday. "We're still evaluating the notice that came out at the end of June."

Yet another company, Open Range Communications, is balking at the latest offer after having received a reported $267 Million from the Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Program (RDUP) in March (a previous edition of a stimulus package aimed at rural broadband access).

With this latest stimulus offer announced by Biden, the deadline for applying for the funds is notably tighter. Companies are faced with deciding whether they can/will accept the terms of the funding while they only learned of said terms as late as July 1st. And, it seems, many may decide the easy money may not be worth the strings it has attached.

Labels: Broadband, Network Providers, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 8:21 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, July 7, 2009
"Broadband is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity; and it's no longer a privilege, it's a right," said Michael Lai, CEO of Packet One, speaking during a panel discussion at the CommunicAsia exhibition in Singapore. Packet One Networks is a provider of fixed wireless broadband throughout Malaysia. Their WiMAX services were introduced just last year, and though coverage is still limited, the company is aggressively growing their network.

In an interview with IDG News Service, Lai commented his belief is to invest when the economy is down. Though only 20 percent of Malaysia currently has broadband access, considerable less than nearby Asian countries like Singapore, the Malaysian government is hopeful they can reach 50% coverage by next year. That's an extremely aggressive growth plan. How will they do it?

Lai, of course, sees fixed wireless broadband as the solution... and so do we. First, the cost to roll out GSM network infrastructure across the rural landscape of Malaysia is far less than creating a terrestrial network from scratch. What's more, the speed of a roll-out is also critical for Packet One Networks' aggressive subscriber growth goals. They hope to turn their 10,000 subscribers today into over 200,000 broadband subscribers by 2010.

There are, of course, obstacles in the way. Not the least of which are the existing cellular providers with 3G broadband capability. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the economy. But it seems in this case, wireless is driving the economy, not the other way around. Malaysia's aggressive push toward rural broadband access coupled with Lai's aggressive growth goals all while capital is tighter than ever means one thing: under these economic conditions, wireless is the only way to drive such growth.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access

posted by Nick Carter at 4:38 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Thursday, July 2, 2009
Robert Evatt, a staff writer for the Tulsa World in the nations most stereotypical rural state: Oklahoma (ok, maybe a close second to Kansas) chronicled his recent visit to a rural community and the broadband access that was noticeably absent. Evatt writes: "As it stands, we're creating a sizable gulf between connected areas and disconnected areas."

I noticed something subtle in Robert's experience, and in his commentary thereof, that struck me today. He doesn't say that "there exists" or that "there remains" a gulf. In Robert's estimation, and I would tend to disagree, "we're creating."

Certainly we cannot argue that with less than 70% of homes in America having access to broadband internet, and likely a similar number of businesses, the gulf is undeniable. I call it a gulf because, unless you've live in disconnect, you can't quite appreciate the real isolation it creates. Not just from a social standpoint--the inability to call dad on a cell--but the business disadvantage, ecommerce breakdown, etc. Can you imagine a local grocer who relies on imprint machines?

However, this gulf is being filled in faster than midway of Chicago. I don't agree that we're (any longer) creating a gulf. In years past, perhaps the ISP's and tcom giants were blind to the impacts of leaving rural areas behind. But today, we're seeing companies like AT&T step up to the rural broadband challenge. Organizations like the Internet for Everyone are rallying to the cause.

I applaud the fact that we are today bridging the gap for rural broadband with fixed wireless broadband technology.

Labels: ATT, Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access

posted by Nick Carter at 3:35 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, June 9, 2009
We reported several months ago on this Broadband Stimulus Package, all the promise of growth and a new era of broadband leadership in America, and of course, the opportunity to chime in about wireless broadband. Well, several readers on Wired.com have chimed in, but unfortunately not through the proper channels.

It seems that most of the formal feedback requests have been completed by the telecom providers that can afford to pay someone to chase the paper trail required for submission. The more casual readers, however, have resorted to the more casual feedback system: comments.

And yet, though there may seem to be no bridge between the formalities of Capital Hill and the "new-fangled blog thingies" on the Internet, Wired.com has spanned the gap. In a formal submission to the FCC, Wired sifted through the chaff and assembled the top comments from their blog(s) into one coherent document for the FCC to review. You can read the FCC submission here.

The problem, of course, is that the comments don't amount to a cohesive message. There's conflicting ideas, not the least of which is the devotion to terrestrial networks (fiber optics and copper cables) and of course, Fixed Wireless Broadband like wimax, 3G, and 4G. So, whose voice will be louder? Have you weighed in yet? Download the form.

Labels: Broadband, FCC, Fixed Wireless Broadband, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 8:27 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Monday, June 1, 2009
No, that doesn't mean we'll be reading about 6G soon, although the nomenclature can get very confusing. AT&T announced aggressive plans to roll out new wireless broadband technology that can double the current 3.6 Mbps speeds to 7.2 Mbps. In a press release last week, AT&T stated "The upgrade to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology is part of AT&T’s plan for continued investments to deliver the nation’s best mobile broadband experience."

I felt this was a timely follow up to last weeks article. Fixed Wireless Broadband Speeds Need Infrastructure Not Broadband. While Telstra is busy offering modems with speeds boasting 21 Mbps, AT&T is still working to make 7 possible on their networks.

In Addition, AT&T has increased the spectrum range devoted to 3G, expanding it's available coverage for wireless broadband service.

Labels: ATT, Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband

posted by Nick Carter at 6:28 AM Link to this Article  1 Comments

Friday, May 29, 2009
The world cheered when a new, supposedly revolutionary piece of wireless broadband hardware was released in Barcelona this February at the GSMA Mobile World Congress. The new hardware, a PC-Only wireless modem, was introduced by Telstra and promised 21 Mbps peak connection speeds. So, why doesn't every retail store, c-store, and hospitality center in the world have one by now?

Probably because there simply isn't enough bandwidth served through the GSM to actually keep up with the modem's capability. If 21 Mbps were attainable for every wireless broadband user, even just for the business users, then we would have likely heard a lot more about this over the past 5 months, and probably seen competitors clamoring to compete. But that hasn't been the case.

Instead, focus has been on beefing up the infrastructure to meet the existing demands of an ever increasing user base of fixed wireless broadband. We recently reported on one such effort by Verizon who upped it's wireless broadband capacity in one suburban area, foregoing new terrestrial network construction.

When ZDNet tested Telstra's hardware in Australia (the only market it's available in at present), they experienced peak performance at 6 Mbps, and averages at only half that. One can't help but notice the word "theoretical" pasted all throughout their review, and a direct quote from Telstra's own material stating, "customers will experience typical user download speeds of 550Kbps – 8Mbps." That's quite a range. Why the gap between the peak experienced and the peak theorized? Simple. Network capacity. Joseph Hanlon stated it like this: "Theoretically the network is capable of delivering 21Mbps but only if you parked yourself immediately next to a base station, and accessed an uncongested network."

So, where does the wireless broadband industry need to turn next? New client-side hardware? No. We look forward to seeing major providers continue building and enhancing their infrastructure to meet increasing demands--both rural and urban. That is the only first step toward a wireless world.

Labels: Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband Access

posted by Nick Carter at 7:16 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
As AT&T recently commented in their press release yesterday, people's lives are becoming increasingly fast-paced and their need for connectivity is growing. We couldn't agree more. In fact, neither can the people behind the Internet for Everyone initiative, the Wireless Communication Association, or even the government's own NTIA for that matter.

We learned yesterday that for several rural communities in Missouri, AT&T is answering the call. In what appears to be a part of their earlier announced plan to invest $11 Billion in wireless and wireline broadband, AT&T announced yesterday that they will be introducing 55 new cell sites to the state of Missouri that will enable 3G wireless broadband for travelers (and c-stores) along US 67 (view press release here).

3G wireless speeds along rural highways means much more than just connectivity for travelers. It's convenient IT for the convenience stores that dot the exit ramps, too. Fixed Wireless Broadband over the 3G GSM network is the fastest-to-deploy and lowest TCO option for most locations such as highway interchanges where wireline connections are either impossible to find or impossibly slow and unreliable.

To learn more about fixed wireless broadband for c-stores and other retail, check Accel Network's primary network solutions.

Labels: Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, NTIA, Rural Broadband, WCAI

posted by Nick Carter at 9:14 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Thursday, May 14, 2009
According to Tim Greene at Computer World, Verizon has unloaded much of its terrestrial broadband network lines. As for the reasons why, they should come as no surprise: Verizon is all about Wireless Broadband.

Greene commented that Verizon's decision to unload such a large amount of infrastructure--$8.6 Billion worth to be precise--is simple: these assets "don't align with its core businesses." In fact, the more notable news to me was learning that Verizon ever owned over $8 Billion in copper cable and fiber optics.

The buyer, Frontier Communications, sees value in the assets as part of their mission to bring broadband access to rural areas. Most of the network being sold serves rural areas across the U.S. While we applaud Frontier for their dedication to that service, I still have to shake my head wondering, "isn't wireless broadband a better way to serve rural areas?"

All in all, I'm convinced this is an excellent move for Verizon, increasing capital that can be applied to the more pertinent task of building their fixed wireless infrastructure. As for the rural access, we shall wait and see what Frontier makes of their new growth.

Labels: Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access, Verizon

posted by Nick Carter at 5:12 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
How often do you find headlines that read like this: "Sidewalks Destroyed and Sod Ripped Up as Miles of Fiberoptics are Laid to Increase Broadband Capacity." Not very often. When major tcom companies like Verizon need to increase broadband capacity to meet demand, more and more often they're turning to fixed wireless broadband solutions.

That was the case with this morning's announcement that Verizon Wireless Increases Wireless Broadband Capacity in Watertown Area. According to their press release, this wasn't just for your average teenager downloading videos and music. Verizon has a serious interest in "the company's high-speed wireless broadband network geared toward mobile professionals and business customers."

What is most notable to me, however, is the speed at which the upscaling can occur on wireless broadband networks. As I parodied the downsides to beefing up wireline networks--major construction that entails destruction in its path--there is a serious side to the benefits of leveraging a growing GSM network. Think about the costs and time-to-market that would be required for copper cable and fiberoptics to deliver the same bandwidth capacity that Verizon's 10 new cell sites will offer. Wireless Broadband is, without a doubt, the answer to expanding broadband coverage.

Labels: Broadband, Coverage, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband Access, Verizon

posted by Nick Carter at 5:56 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Thursday, May 7, 2009
My grandmother was recently introduced to email. She uses a simple software on her desktop called Juno that doesn't even require her to get online. So, her monthly bandwidth consumption is probably less than the average mobile phone in 1995. And yet, she pays the same amount for internet as the neighbor across the street running her home based ebay business.

Now, I can certainly understand the economic reasons that this is so based on the cost to deliver service to each household. But, some people these days aren't so sure. And, it may surprise you that many discussions over this issue aren't geared towards saving money for the little-old-lady, it's about charging more for the internet moguls.

This fall, Time Warner is reportedly going to begin rolling out a metered pricing plan based on bandwidth consumption. This has obviously been met with mixed reviews. But, it's a pricing model not uncommon in the telecom industry. Mobile phones, for starters, began with pay per usage and only recently evolved into offering unlimited plans.

Which brings one important question to mind: if the companies on the GSM network billed per usage until their network grew to the capacity it is now, why would one of the largest providers on the age-old cable networks just now be switching to a per usage model? It seems counter-intuitive.

Labels: Broadband, Cost Reduction, Network Providers, Time Warner

posted by Nick Carter at 9:59 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
I can remember the widespread panic a few years back when major metropolitan areas around the U.S. began to experience brownouts during peak load times. Mainly, the media focused on California cities where they simply couldn't build power plants fast enough to keep up with demand. There was panic in the streets. Could such a staple of life be so fickle? So unreliable? Then, just as quickly as it came, the problem was solved and most forgot about it.

Well, the fear hasn't gone away, it's just shifted focus. Today, analysts and so-called experts are postulating as to when the global backbone of the Internet will meet it's match in bandwidth demand. Researchers at Nemertes Research actually presented a theory (in 2007) that bandwidth demand would outgrow network capacity by 2010. Well, it's 2009 and I don't believe anyone is truly nervous about that prospect.

In fact, in a much more recent article from TMC.net, the issue raised is not global network backbone, it's actually local network access. DSL, cable, frame relays, and a slew of T1's are bringing more and more people online at an alarming rate, but can the local networks handle it? Gary Kim believes the wildcard that could save us all may turn out to be wireless broadband.

"wired broadband supply increases linearly, obviously posing some risk if access demand grows non-linearly."

But if local broadband access meets a crunch time,

"New broadband wireless capacity can be turned up much more quickly than wired broadband can."

I couldn't have said it better myself. In fact, the only thing I think the author, Gary Kim, has overlooked is the fact that this is already happening all over America. Anytime a c-store goes up on a highway in the middle of nowhere, the access demand for that specific location has indeed grown beyond the ability for wireline providers. Sure, it doesn't make headline news because it's not a community of millions in a high-profile California city. The proof is, nonetheless, in the pudding.

Enter Accel Networks. Fixed Wireless Broadband from Accel is used every day to ramp up broadband access in an otherwise "under-served" area (i.e. unable to connect via anything wired). With no copper cable laid at all, Accel has stores online in as little as a week, including layer 2 security. Wildcard, Mr. Kim? I do beleive you're onto something.

Labels: Broadband, Coverage, Fixed Wireless Broadband

posted by Nick Carter at 10:37 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The other day my power went out. Of course, I immediately looked over at the stove clock to see the time and it was just a blank LED screen. So, what was my next move? I instinctively turned to look at the microwave to see the time there. No such luck. Obviously, they were both on the same connection to the power grid so of course they would both be out. They shared a common point of failure. That "duh" moment was the beginning of a great new idea.

What if that had been my internet, not my power… and it wasn't my oven clock that was down, it was my point-of-sale system? If you use one carrier and that carrier goes down, then what back-up can you have?

Recently, Accel completed an implementation for a retail store chain. With hundreds of stores, we were responsible for implementing both primary networks and network continuity (back-up) at various sites. The unique part is this: our multi-carrier antenna technology allowed us to tune one site's primary network to one carrier with their back-up network on another. The site's entire network was wireless, allowing for deployment in a matter of days. And their continuity is as bullet-proof as networks get.

Best of all, even though there a multiple carriers, there is only ONE bill. So you get the coverage you need, without the administrative nightmare. Accel delivered a predictable and reliable fixed wireless broadband service faster than any wireline could ever boast. How will you connect your next store opening?

Labels: backup network, Broadband, Coverage, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Network Providers

posted by Nick Carter at 11:18 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, April 28, 2009
To be honest, I'm not a shopper. I refuse to go to one store to buy tomatoes on sale and then another to get the onions just to save a few cents. Convenience is my motivator. In business, I'm the same way. Once I have found a vendor that I like, I don't want to worry about diverse contracts with multiple suppliers. The biggest value to me isn't the money saved, its the time saved.

But, I've learned more recently about entire business models growing around the concept of supplier aggregation. A friend of mine runs a business that serves offices throughout the Indianapolis area, providing all of their office supply needs. He shops the competition, gets bids, and buys from a half-dozen different vendors each time he fills any order. Sole-sourced? Yes and no. The end-customer is receiving product from a host of sources, but the frustrations and headaches that usually accompany such shopping are no longer theirs to bear.

The same thing has been happening for years in the telecom industry. Retail stores, restaurants, and c-store locations all need one thing: broadband access. Yet, fewer and fewer are going directly through any one provider. Sure, it's quite a hassle for a network administrator to negotiate and manage contracts with AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint all at the same time. But, what if they didn't have to?

The Accelerator™ antenna technology allows one company to have multiple sites each served by different wireless broadband providers--whichever one is best for any individual site. It's the best of both worlds: ideal coverage and flexibility while Accel Networks handles the procurement nightmare.

Labels: Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Network Providers

posted by Nick Carter at 6:24 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, April 21, 2009
In March, the FCC auctioned licenses to the 700MHz spectrum which was made available by the nation-wide mandated transition to digital TV. Who wound up owning the vast majority of those licenses? Verizon Wireless. The FCC raised $19.6 Billion but the real winner was Verizon Wireless, who now estimates they will have enough network to reach every corner of rural America with 4G fixed wireless broadband access.

Aside from the fact that infrastructure already exists all over the nation for broadcasting this spectrum; And, not to mention that receivers and devices on this spectrum have been developed and redeveloped since the dawn of television; It's the physics of the waves that makes Verizon, and all of the broadband industry, excited to see what develops. The 700MHz spectrum waves can travel long distances and propagate through walls, which makes it ideal for covering broad, geographically dispersed regions of the U.S.

As we wrote about a while back, fixed wireless broadband has always been the most feasible technology for bringing internet to rural areas. That fact has not changed. What this purchase means, however, is that one of the most technically capable spectrum in air waves is now under the control of one of the nations largest telecom companies, Verizon, with the express mission of bringing delivering broadband to more Americans than ever.

When can we expect to see the roll-out begin? Verizon plans to begin building a 4G network as early as 2010. However, reaching every household could take years. Whatever the time frame, this purchase marks an exciting new era for wireless broadband.

Labels: Broadband, Coverage, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband Access, Verizon

posted by Nick Carter at 5:18 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
In San Jose, California last week thousands of businesses lost connectivity for nearly 10 hours when vandals reportedly climbed through a manhole and cut fiber-optic cables. Fixing the problem had to start with finding the problem. Then, fixing fiber-optics isn't like splicing a 10-gauge wire with a stripper and some black tape. All this leaves me wondering, should your broadband be hanging by a fiber?

According to CNET, among the businesses affected was everyone from email marketing firms with millions of emails to serve all the way to small retail, convenience stores, and private homes. The outage affected people in at least 3 nearby cities.

How many cell towers can be found in that same radius? Not less than a dozen. It would take a small army of vandals to black out the redundancy of that GSM wireless grid. Fixed wireless broadband, whether as a primary network or a backup network, could have kept tens of thousands of businesses online. If each business does just 10 transactions an hour of $10 a piece, that would be no less than $1 Million in sales processed without a hitch.

Now, imagine if your store wasn't located in a grid like urban San Francisco. How long could it take to restore connectivity to your new store in a developing community or the gas station off a rural highway. When just one over-zealous digger severs a cable or a vandal finds an unguarded manhole, what can that mean for your expanding business? Will you be ready? Will you stay connected?

Labels: backup network, Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband

posted by Nick Carter at 4:57 AM Link to this Article  1 Comments

Tuesday, April 7, 2009
I had a noon appointment yesterday, so I decided to head out about 10 minutes early and stop off at a store to pick up something real quick. I knew exactly what I needed and where to find it, so it should just be a quick in-and-out, right? Wrong.

My first clue should have been when the associate had to call the back room manually and check to see if an item was in stock. Should the computer tell him that? When I approached the registers, lines were longer than usual, but nothing too daunting, and besides, I had time to spare. Ten minutes later, however, I was about to abandon the mission and just come back later when at last a new register opened that I could move to. Finally, just a swipe of the credit card and I'm out the door.

I was wrong. The delays that I was experiencing were due to a network outage. The store's local network was up and running just fine, but they had lost their layer 2 network connection with the central store. Their point-of-sale system was entirely dependent on the central network, as was inventory (even local inventories) and credit card processing. After waiting for a manual imprint of my card and a telephone authorization, I arrived at my meeting 15 minutes late.

Fixed Wireless Broadband backup networks offer more reliability than any wireline network could dream. Since the "grid" relies on no physical connectivity, careless diggers and even natural disasters have far less effect. The store's sales and customer satisfaction could have been significantly higher with a PCI-compliant back-up network from Accel Networks.

Labels: backup network, Broadband, Coverage, Fixed Wireless Broadband

posted by Nick Carter at 9:15 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
We've heard about it. We know it's coming. We've even been invited to interact with the NTIA and FCC. So, how are providers of fixed wireless broadband solutions responding? We heard one report that made me jump for joy (and start pricing airfare).

Andy Vamvakias of Premium Choice Broadband in Maine took it upon himself to advocate for the entire state of Main with regard to the broadband stimulus funds that are being made available. Under his won volition, Andy flew to DC to lobby not only for his small broadband provider but for his great state to get a piece of the pie. "There is no guarantee that stimulus money of any significant amount will come to Maine," he said. "If we don't move quickly and convincingly, we stand to lose it."

Andy's position is that the funds should be made available directly to businesses who can put it to use quickest, as opposed to trickling down through the usual bureaucratic channels of government grants and the like. In Andy's case, he believes he could spend 10 million in a matter of weeks, creating work for 10-20 people and providing broadband network access to currently unserved or underserved areas.

I'd like to go on record with a hearty "here-here" for Andy. What are your thoughts on how the funds could be used in your area for the best economic gain? And, what are you doing about it?

Labels: Broadband, FCC, Fixed Wireless Broadband, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 7:07 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Saturday, March 28, 2009
Silver lining? Could be. I can't imagine any more likely occasion to reconsider a broadband provider than when your current one just dissipates overnight. Terms of assignees and transferability--well, I'll leave that to the lawyers--but if ever a customer was looking for a new provider of a managed broadband network, I'd think twice before blindly accepting Telekenex's buy-out of AuBeta as announced last week.

But, then again, is it worth switching providers? I mean, we all know how painful an enterprise-wide network transition can be. If you value your sanity, you might be easily won over by the mere simplicity of doing nothing at all.

But what if there were no legacy copper-cable networks in question? What if all the baggage of terrestrial broadband were suddenly a non-issue? Accel Networks is offering a transition program for former AuBeta customers that provides retail and multi-site clients the ability to rapidly deploy a managed PCI compliant broadband network. Unlike terrestrial broadband solutions, Accel can have AuBeta clients switched over within days versus the typical six-week lead time required for replacement DSL or frame relay service.

Hard to believe? Consider this: in February Accel Networks completed the deployment of an 87-site primary network in only 16 days. Accel's solution provided the retailer a PCI Compliant managed fixed wireless broadband network on Accel’s "layer 2" private network architecture. On another occasion, Accel also deployed a network continuity solution of just under 300 locations for a national dollar store retailer within a period spanning only a few weeks.

So, it is possible. It is affordable. Is it time to consider a change?

Labels: AuBeta Telekenex, Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband

posted by Nick Carter at 9:23 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Yesterday, as the Obama Administration's economic stimulus plans were unveiled in Washington, the Dow got a boost on Wall Street. Among the most successful jumps on the markets were Telecom leaders AT&T, Verizon, and Motorola. Investors and Analysts appear to be optimistic about the effect that the $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus will bring on the telecom giants.

As we've come to know well, spending is the key to our U.S. economy. Earlier we reported on AT&T's plans to devote $11 billion to wireless broadband. We've also learned that Verizon will have to decide what to do with it's $1.6 billion from the senate stimulus plan. Countless other funds of untold billions are no doubt becoming available to smaller telecom and broadband providers, all of which seem to carry a common theme: bring fast Internet connections to rural and low-income areas.

So, how does all this affect you? Well, first of all, leading the world in fixed wireless broadband technology will certainly be beneficial for keeping the U.S. on the leading edge of global markets. But, more immediate effects will be felt by the businesses in and around rural areas. Businesses serving rural areas will see increased e-commerce opportunity. Businesses in rural areas will see lower costs and higher availability for broadband access via wireless GSM infrastructure. The bottom line: it's encouraging to know that the telecom industry leaders are planning and positioning for growth.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 6:26 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Friday, March 20, 2009
If you're a store owner, you know the risks of network outage. If you've suffered an outage for any length of time, then you know how those risks translate to costs all too well. Between loss of credit card processing, point-of-sale processes, and the man-hours required to bring it all back online, a few hours of outage could cost more than an entire year of a back-up network you might never even use.

So, what should you use for a back-up network? More and more businesses today are turning to Accel Networks for a fixed wireless broadband layer2 network that keeps their stores active in the event of wiredline outage. Consider this, in the post-Katrina aftermath in New Orleans, the GSM (cell tower) network was online the same day in many areas, and within a matter of hours the majority of the city had coverage.

Now, if your store were sitting at the bottom of a 10-foot swell, network connectivity may be the least of your worries. But this serves as an example of how fixed wireless networks, not reliant on wireline infrastructure, can be the most reliable and resiliant broadband access choices in the face of any disaster.

Not only is Accel Network's fixed wireless broadband solution the logical choice because of the network through which it's supported, but clients also enjoy a customer-friendly billing process where overage fees are actually avoided. To learn more about these plans and your options, visit Accel Networks' "Network Continuity" solutions page.

Labels: backup network, Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband

posted by Nick Carter at 11:46 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Monday, March 16, 2009
The $7.2 Billion that the NTIA and FCC now have on their hands created a flood of over 2000 individual requests for meetings and follow-ups from advocacy groups, local and state government agencies, and private companies all across the U.S. Following the first of several public meetings on the topic, we now have a systematic means for follow-up. The agencies have released an RFI form requesting information relevant to the proper handling of these funds.

You can download the form at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/frnotices/2009/FR_BTOP_RFI_090312.pdf. Don't be shocked to find a lengthy form. No doubt, in part, to weed out those deeply interested in the process from the casual squalkers. But, if you (like us) desire to see the funds used appropriately in the rollout of broadband access for the U.S., we encourage you to take the time.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, FCC, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 11:06 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Friday, March 13, 2009
We have talked a lot recently about the recent stimulus package and it's impact on wireless broadband investments in the U.S. There's no word on whether AT&T's recently announced plans were motivated (or even funded) by the stimulus, but whatever the source, the results are obvious: 3,000 jobs alone will be created in AT&T's next initiative to ramp-up 3G networks across America.

According to Network World, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson says that despite the current recession, AT&T needs to invest heavily in wireless capacity to keep up with consumer demand for bandwidth. Their plans include nearly doubling their 3G presence in the U.S., which entails nearly 2100 new GSM-based cell sites.

So, with AT&T upping the ante, what will the other major providers do with their broadband stimulus funds? What we expect (and hope) to see is the race begin to lead the U.S. in wireless broadband connectivity among Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T. It appears AT&T has jumped out to a lead, at least in what they've promised. But if there is one thing Capitalism assures, it's that where one company ventures, more will follow. Competition drove us to where we are in technology today, and it is driving us to the future as we speak.

See the full article in Yahoo Finance: AT&T to Add 3000 Jobs...

Labels: Broadband, Economy, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Nick Carter at 6:16 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Fixed Wireless networking is nothing new. The concept has been in use since the early days of microwave communication. Today, however, we're talking specifically about the type of wireless that nearly every American uses daily (though they may not know it by name): GSM. Over the last decade, the wireless infrastructure that powers everyday cell phone usage has been used more and more for data networks. So how does this network architecture work and what are its advantages?

In principal, it's simple. If you have ever seen an internet-capable mobile phone or PDA, you have witnessed network data being transmitted wirelessly through the use of GSM towers and antennas. But in areas of high-demand business networks, the amounts of data can be significantly higher than that text message you just received, or the 400 x 250 pixel mobile web page you just viewed.

The recently popularized 3G networks optimize Spectral Efficiency in order to offer a higher capacity connection for both voice and data. Fixed Wireless Broadband applications, then, use specialized antennas, like Accel Networks' Accelerator™ Antenna, to aggregate signal from multiple providers. By aggregating and already optimized signal, the Accelerator™ Antenna is able to use a 3G-enabled fixed wireless network to deliver broadband that's comparable to DSL and Cable.

But, there's more. One of the dreaded fears of network administrators for decades has been network outage. When an entire operation relies on a wired connection via a single provider, a number of risks exist ranging from a physical break in the wired connection to network outage caused by the provider's hardware failure. Many businesses today are turning to fixed wireless broadband as either a primary or, at minimum, a back-up network solution for the simple fact that the aggregation of the Accelerator Antenna means not only speed but also redundancy and fail-over. With today's 3G wireless infrastructure well established and still growing, fixed wireless broadband can be an all-around more reliable solution than wired connections.

Labels: Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband

posted by Nick Carter at 6:56 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Thursday, March 5, 2009
With over $7.2 billion at stake, there has been no shortage of banter over where the money should be spent. A simple google search for "broadband stimulus" yields hundreds of thousands of recent news entries and blogger buzz about the topic. So, what do we know as of now?

First, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will handle a portion of the funds. I originally was led to believe (probably through one of the numerous sources chattering about the topic on the internet these days) that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) would be the exclusive administrator of Obama's stimulus, but it appears I was incorrect.

However, I'm glad to have been found mistaken. Ron Schott, an Arizona news man, points out in his recent article on the broadband stimulus package, that with the RUS in charge, it could mean 80-95% of the largely rural state of Arizona receives coverage. Some people expressed disappointment over the historic allocation of funds that the RUS approved, stating that the money doesn't always end up at the most rural of areas. In either regard, I say that I'm pleased t see this development because I believe it will mean more money invested in rural infrastructure rather than floating the major carriers with loans and grants to "improve" existing networks.

As per my previous article over the allocation of these funds to wireless broadband technology, no definitive answer has been given. But, rest assured the industry is lobbying hard to make sure we get our cut. Fred Campbell, president of The Wireless Communication Association International (WCAI) stated, “WCAI applauds the inclusion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of funding for the delivery of wireless broadband to underserved areas.” He also commented, "As the only broadband platform that is capable of providing access everywhere, all the time, wireless broadband is essential to achieving universal broadband connectivity."

Where will the dollars fall, we aren't certain yet. I will be keeping my ear to the rail, hopefully the train's-a-comin'.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus, WCAI

posted by Nick Carter at 3:49 PM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Everyone seems to be talking about the stimulus package these days, and the telecom industry is no different. The National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) got a $4.7 Billion chunk of Obama's stimulus bucket-o-money, and they're looking for ways to spend it. Where would be the most economical (yes, even I have to drop the buzz word) place to spend that money?

Consider the costs of laying thousands of miles of copper cable across the deserts, mountains, and tundras where broadband access is still unattainable. Now, consider this: depending on terrain and other circumstances, a GSM tower can substutute for anywhere from 4 to 50 miles of hard wiring. Not only that, but when considering manpower for installation and the ongoing maintenance, the total cost of ownership (in this case, our own taxpayer ownership) is dramatically lower.

But doesn't that defeat the purpose? I thought we wanted more work, more jobs, and more product purchased so as to stimulate the economy. That's true, but the simple fact is that if the $4.7 Billion doesn't all get eaten up in broadband, rest assured, they'll find other places to spend it.

If you'd like to get involved, learn more about the NTIA and the Broadband Grant Program Meetings.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, NTIA, Rural Broadband Access

posted by Nick Carter at 5:38 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments


You may have heard of a recently launched and rapidly growing advocacy group called Internet for Everyone. The premise of the group is easily surmised: they are creating awareness of the lack of broadband access for rural and under-developed areas of the U.S. And, while much of the sentiment on their website may remind you of a social movement, their interests appear to be very much business-focused, realizing that where businesses can get online, there the economic growth will bring the rest of the community along.

One of the hottest topics for Internet for Everyone today is the recently approved stimulus package which includes billions for internet infrastructure. Telecom companies around the nation will be awarded huge projects for building the infrastructure that will bring broadband connectivity to rural areas.

But is this effort too narrowly focused? When I visited Indonesia last year, I was surprised to learn that the entire nation had totally skipped the wired telephone age. By the time they were ready to build their nation's telecom infrastructure, it no longer made sense to go wired. Today, they are a nation of wireless users. The same phenomenon has happened all across developing countries. So why not the developing regions of this great country?

In fact, fixed wireless broadband is already delivering connectivity to places where wired connection is impractical or impossible. Take a look at our coverage map and you'll see that Accel provides 2.5-3g speed to over 80% of the U.S. without a single copper line laid. If you're still in an area without coverage, broadband access may be closer than you realize. Let's talk.

Labels: Broadband, Coverage, Rural Broadband Access

posted by Nick Carter at 4:57 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments