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

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



Report 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.


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DATAMONITOR VIEW 1
CATALYST 1
SUMMARY 1
METHODOLOGY 1
ANALYSIS 2
Business models and ecosystems are critical factors in municipal wireless efforts 2
Success of a municipal wireless initiative depends on its supporting business model 2
The completely public model offers local governments total authority over their municipal wireless network 3
A public-private partnership allows municipalities and service providers to focus on their core strengths 4
An anchor tenant relationship promises the most success for municipal wireless networks 6
Choosing the right partners is crucial for municipal wireless networks 6
Services providers lead the move towards public-private partnerships 7
AT&T extends its DSL business with municipal wireless 7
BT partners with 12 UK cities for municipal wireless 8
EarthLink offers municipal wireless via public-private partnerships with local governments 8
MetroFi partners with local governments for municipal wireless projects 8
The Cloud provides an open wireless network for municipalities and service providers 9
US Internet builds municipal wireless networks in public-private partnerships 9
Networking companies provide the backbone of municipal wireless networks 9
Alvarion provides WiMAX equipment for backhaul 9
BelAir Networks's multi-radio equipment create mesh networks 10
Firetide equipment enables mesh networks 10
Nortel equipment and applications support municipal wireless 10
PacketHop extends fixed mesh networks 11
Proxim Wireless increases focus on mesh networks 11
SkyPilot's primary focus is municipal wireless 11
Strix Systems manufactures multiple-radio equipment 12
Tropos Networks takes a software-based approach 12
Content providers, search engines and systems integrators also play important roles in municipal wireless 12
Google attempts to bring attention to the municipal wireless market 12
IBM acts as a systems integrator on municipal wireless projects 12
LastMile Communications delivers local content over municipal wireless networks 13
ACTIONS 14
Require the municipality to commit to the network as an anchor tenant 14
Clarify the boundaries of overlapping responsibilities early to ensure end-user satisfaction 14
Enter into an agreement with a joint understanding of the municipality's assets 15
APPENDIX 16
Definitions 16
Extended methodology 16
Further reading 16
Ask the analyst 16

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Figure 1: In a municipally-owned model, the local government acts as the service provider 3
Figure 2: A public-private model allows each entity to concentrate on its strengths 4
Figure 3: An anchor tenant relationship provides the municipality and the service provider with more influence over the network's design 6
Figure 4: The ecosystem for municipal wireless 7

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