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Definition: Wireless Internet Access Service Provider
WISP is an acronym which stands for Wireless Internet Access Service Provider. These can be Wi-Fi hotspots or an operator with a Wi-Fi based network infrastructure. Often they offer additional services, like location based content, Virtual Private Networking and Voice over IP.
WISP's are predominantly in rural environments where cable and digital subscriber lines are not available. WiMax was expected to become mainstream in 2006 and was anticipated that it would dramatically change the marketplace by increasing the number of interoperable equipment on the market and making mobile data transmission feasible. Unfortunately this has not happened and has hampered the expected increase in adoption rates of WISP services.
Typically, the way that a WISP operates is to pull a large and usually expensive point to point connection to the center of the area they wish to service. From here, they will need to find some sort of elevated point in the region, such as a radio or water tower, on which to mount their equipment. On the consumers side, they will mount a small dish to the roof of their home and point it back to the WISP's dish.
Since it is difficult for a single service provider to build an infrastructure that offers global access to its subscribers, roaming between service providers is encouraged by the Wi-Fi Alliance with the WISPr protocol. WISPr is a set of recommendations approved by the alliance which facilitate inter-network and inter-operator roaming of Wi-Fi users.
Many wireless broadband services provide average download speeds of over 100 Mbit/s, and is estimated to have a range of 50 km (30 miles)[citation needed]. Technologies used include LMDS and MMDS, and one particular access technology is being standardized by IEEE 802.16, also known as WiMAX.
At first, Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) were only found in rural areas not covered by cable or DSL. These early WISPs would receive a large connection, such as a T1 or DS3 connection, and then prodcast signal from a high elevation, such as at the top of a water tower. To receive this type of internet, consumers would mount a small dish to the roof of their home or office and point it to the transmitter. Line of sight was usually necessary for this type of technology, but technologies by Motorola have not adhered to this general rule.
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Wireless Internet Access Service Provider Contents
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- Rapid Deployment - Allows networks to be deployed without cabling for client devices, typically reducing the costs of network deployment and expansion. Spaces where cables cannot be run, such as outdoor areas and historical buildings, can host wireless Internet access networks.
- Fastest Internet Access in the World - Wi-Fi is the fastest Internet access network in the world. Wi-Fi is currently at 54Mbps now, and soon 802.11n will offer 248Mbps. The access speeds blow away 3G, cable and DSL providers. Only fiber to the curb can really compete with Wi-Fi.
- Massive Availability - Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) antennas are built into 99% of all modern laptops, getting a laptop without a built in Wi-Fi antenna would be extremely rare.
- Affordable Pricing for the Masses - Wi-Fi chipset pricing continues to come down, making Wi-Fi a very economical networking option and driving inclusion of Wi-Fi in an ever-widening array of devices.
- Interoperability Amoung All Vendors - Wi-Fi products are widely available in the market. Different competitive brands of access points and client network interfaces are interoperable at a basic level of service. Products designated as Wi-Fi Certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance are backwards compatible.
- Worldwide Wi-Fi Standard - Wi-Fi is a global set of standards. Unlike 3G cellular carriers, which are slow and fragmented, the same Wi-Fi Internet access device works in different countries around the world.
- Ubiquitous Coverage - Widely available in more than 250,000 public hot spots and tens of millions of homes and corporate and university campuses worldwide.
- Secure Network Connections - As of 2007, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is not easily cracked if strong passwords are used and WPA2 encryption has no known weaknesses.
- Quality of Service - New protocols for Quality of Service (WMM) and power saving mechanisms (WMM Power Save) make Wi-Fi even more suitable for latency-sensitive applications (such as voice over IP and video on demand) and offered in a very small form-factor.
- Indoor Wi-Fi Access Points - Indoor Wi-Fi Internet access
points are the most ubiquitous form of broadband Internet access in the world. There is not a remote city or third
world country that doesn't have at least one Internet Cafe in town. Wi-Fi Internet access points are easy to install
and very cost effective to deploy. Wi-Fi 802.11g currently provides 54Mbps of bandwidth.
- Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) - In every small town, there
is at least one wireless Internet service provider, also known as a WISP. It might be a very large Turnkey WISP or it might
be a small Neighborhood WISP (NISP). Unlike Wi-Fi, a WISP will install a fixed antenna on a customer's premises, which provides
the equivalent to a wireless T1 or faster connection.
- Municipal Citywide Wi-Fi Mesh Networks - It used to be that only
rural towns in America saw that benefits of building a wireless Internet network in town to generate new economic development.
In the last year, just about every big city in the world has contemplated adding wireless Internet access to their portfolio of economic development
tools to generate jobs and attract corporations to their cities and towns. In addition, wireless Internet access is
also seen as the only cost-effective way to provide broadband Internet connections to underpriviledged citizens. The technology that made this
possible was wireless routers using mesh networking technology. Mesh network technology
made it possible to blanket a city or town with Wi-Fi access points and offer the same type of roaming capabilities that
users have come to expect with wireless cell phones.
- Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) -
EDGE was designed by 3G
carriers to carry wireless data over cell phone connections, which were designed for low bandwidth voice applications.
As a result, the maximum speed is limited to only 236.8 kbit/s for 4 timeslots (theoretical maximum is 473.6 kbit/s for 8 timeslots)
in packet mode and will therefore meet the International Telecommunications Union's requirement for a 3G network. By Wi-Fi
standards, EDGE is very slow and offers only a marginal connection at best.
- Evolution-Data Optimized for CDMA -
EVDO
was also designed by 3G that operated CDMA networks. The initial version was called EV-DO, Rev. 0,
but quickly upgraded to
EV-DO Rev. A.
Sprint and Verizon Wireless are deploying
EVDO technology in the United States and by Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility in Canada.
EVDO was yet another attempt to develop a faster wireless data transport system that could compete with Wi-Fi.
In addition to the increase in the maximum burst
downlink rate from Rev. 0's 2.45 Mbit/s to 3.1 Mbit/s, Rev. A offered a significant
improvement in the maximum uplink data rate, from 153 kbit/s to a maximum uplink
burst rate of 1.8 Mbit/s. Still slow compared to Wi-Fi, but EVDO can provide acceptable
wireless Internet connections if nothing else is available.
- High-Speed Downlink Packet Accesss for UMTS -
HSDPA
was designed by 3G carriers that operated UMTS networks. High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), sometimes
referred to as High-Speed Downlink Protocol Access, is a 3G mobile telephony protocol in the HSPA family,
which provides a roadmap for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)-based networks to increase
their data transfer speeds and capacity. Current HSDPA deployments now support up to 7.2 Mbps and represents
the fastest 3G wireless Internet access protocol.
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Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) -
WiMAX is a
standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile
wireless broadband access as an alternative to wired broadband like cable and
DSL. WiMAX provides fixed , nomadic, portable and, soon, mobile wireless
broadband connectivity without the need for direct line-of-sight with a base
station. In a typical cell radius deployment of three to ten kilometers, WiMAX
Forum Certified™ systems can be expected to deliver capacity of up to 40 Mbps
per channel, for fixed and portable access applications. This is enough bandwidth
to simultaneously support hundreds of businesses
with T-1 speed connectivity and thousands of residences with DSL speed
connectivity. Mobile network deployments are expected to provide up to 15 Mbps
of capacity within a typical cell radius deployment of up to three kilometers.
WiMAX technology will be incorporated into the majority of notebook computers
and PDAs by the end of 2007, allowing for urban areas and cities to become "WiMAX Metro Zones"
for portable outdoor broadband wireless Internet access.
Many WISPs, especially in Africa, Asia and CIS use satellite as their main Internet backbones. For example, PEP-iDirect is a perfect platform to start up the WISP business with much lower costs than it would take with standard SCPC systems and terrestrial circuits if the local telecom markets are monopolized. At the same time PEP-iDirect allows to maintain the high quality of backbone service provided which is equal to a dedicated SCPC or even better. The PEP-iDirect system can support up to 1500 subscribers with no equipment upgrades as well as little as 50 subscribers, still staying cost effective for entrepreneurs.
A wireless connection can be either licensed or unlicensed. In the US, licensed connections use a private spectrum the user has secured rights to from the FCC. In other countries, spectrum is licensed from the country's national radio communications authority (such as the ACMA in Australia). Licensing is usually expensive and often reserved for large companies who wish to guarantee private access to spectrum for use in point to point communication. Because of this, most wireless ISP's use unlicensed spectrum which is publicly shared and therefore more prone to interference.
This information provided by the Wikipedia Free WISP Encyclopedia.
Today's News Stories on Wireless Internet Access Products/Services, Wireless Internet Access Network Deployments and Wireless Internet Access Industry Research:
ActiveMine Broadband Wireless Mesh Network Provides Communications for Mining Opertations
Active Control Technology Inc. (TSX-V:ACT) announced a major enhancement of ActiveMine, the premier wireless communications and locating system for mines, that represents a breakthrough in underground mining communications.
WiMax Will Be the Next DSL for More Than 5 Billion People Worldwide; LTE Years Away from Meaningful Existence
We believe there is a role for LTE as the natural evolution of GSM/HSPA-and probably also CDMA/EV-DO-but we believe it is years away. As such, it contrasts sharply with WiMax, which is being deployed today and for which spectrum has already been made available. WiMax already has an ecosystem which looks a lot like WiFi in terms of cost and diversity, whereas LTE simply is not even defined yet, much less available.
Person close to talks: Sprint close to $12 billion WiMax financing deal
Sprint Nextel Corp. is close to finalizing a deal to get financing for its new wireless broadband network from a group that includes Comcast Corp. and Google Inc., according to a person close to the talks.
East Lyme Chooses WPCS for Advanced Wireless Network
WPCS International Incorporated (Nasdaq: WPCS), a leader in design-build engineering services for specialty communication systems and wireless infrastructure, has announced that through its New England Communications Systems (NECS) subsidiary, it has been selected by The Town of East Lyme, Connecticut to provide an advanced wireless network for the town-wide mission critical public safety initiative.
012 Smile.Communications Submits Application for Mobile WiMAX Trials in Tel Aviv- Ramat Gan
012 Smile.Communications (Nasdaq: SMLC ; TASE) announced that it has applied to Israel's Communications Ministry to expand its license for mobile WiMAX trials to allow an expanded trial in the Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan area, Israel's most densely populated business and residential center. Through the trial, the Company plans to provide users with an Internet connectivity rate of up to a high 10MB, a speed sufficient to support both mobile telephony and a variety of Internet-based applications. The trial will utilize WiMAX technology provided by Alvarion (Nasdaq: ALVR).
Predicting the Future Triumph of Clearwire's $14 Billion Broadband Wireless Network
Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) and Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) announced Wednesday that the companies will combine their broadband wireless units to create a $14.55 billion mobile wireless communications company to provide internet access, phone service, movies, games and a variety of other broadband wireless data services. The new company, which will retain Clearwire's name, will continue developing a mobile network based on WiMax technology, which promises much faster speeds than the latest 3g cellular networks.
SR Telecom & Co. Announces Series of WiMAX Wins
The new SR Telecom has retained the trust and support of its global customer base, and is increasing deliveries of its WiMAX solutions following the recent acquisition of its business activities by Groupe Lagasse. Merely a month in since the re-launch of its business as a subsidiary of Groupe Lagasse, SR Telecom & Co., S.E.C. announced that it has received purchase orders for wireless network deployments from customers in Cameroon, Mexico and the Philippines and is on-track to securing significant additional orders from new and existing customers in the next few weeks.
Ohio Wesleyan Picks 802.11n Broadband Wireless Technology for Campus-wide Network
Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARUN) announced that Ohio Wesleyan University has selected and commenced deployment of Aruba's 802.11n adaptive wireless LANs across its Delaware, Ohio, campus. Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's leading liberal arts universities with138 full-time faculty members and 1,850 students drawn from across the world.
WiMAX Broadband Wireless Networks Continues to Expand Along Eastern Idaho Technology Corridor
Ashburn-based DigitalBridge Communications (DBC) announced that it is expanding high speed wireless Internet service coverage to Idaho Falls, ID. This launch adds the third community within the Eastern Idaho Technology Corridor along Interstate 15 to DBC's WiMAX broadband wireless network in southeastern Idaho. In Idaho Falls, the WiMAX service, called BridgeMAXX, will reach more than 25,000 homes and businesses. DBC is also serving Rexburg, Pocatello and Hailey Idaho, and plans to expand to other communities over the next few months.
Augusta Systems Technologies Wireless Sensors Manage New Smart Grid Power Project
Augusta Systems Inc., provider of intelligent wireless enterprise sensor network technologies, announced that its products have been deployed by Allegheny Power for use in a new Smart Grid project that integrates controls for building systems and energy management with utility infrastructure that achieves new levels of peak load control, energy efficiency and reliability.
New Trend for Money Making for Wi-Fi Hotspots in 'Co-Working' Centers on Wall Street
Rockefeller Group Business Centers is pleased to announce the opening of the company's first Co-Working Center at their 48 Wall Street location. A Co-Working Center is a concept whereby clients are offered a communal work environment in a professional office setting as well as having access to the company's WiFi and hard wired high speed Internet, printing, copy, and business support services.
Cisco and Nokia Utilize Wi-Fi to Fill in 3G Cellular Gaps
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) and Nokia announced growing customer and partner acceptance of their combined mobile unified communications solution. The Mobile Business Solution from Cisco and Nokia extends the rich Cisco Unified Internet Protocol (IP) Phone capabilities to Nokia Eseries smartphones over Cisco Unified Wireless Networks to offer users a seamless mobile experience in the enterprise Wi-Fi environment and public cellular networks.
Motorola and Advanced Info Service Launch WiMAX Trials in Thailand
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) is working with Advanced Info Service (AIS), the largest mobile operator in Thailand, to conduct trials of mobile WiMAX solutions. The trials will enable AIS to gain insight into the next generation personal wireless broadband services.
PacketHop Announces Availability of Draft IEEE 802.11s Broadband Wireless Mesh Networking Products
PacketHop, Inc., an SRI International company and an innovator in instant broadband wireless mesh networking communications systems, announced the commercial availability of its IEEE Draft 802.11s mesh product. PacketHop's implementation of the upcoming IEEE 802.11s industry standard enables the creation of meshed peer-to-peer communications structures -- as a standalone network or in conjunction with existing access points -- and opens new and strategic market opportunities for OEMs.
FCC Approves Nextlink's Substantial LMDS Broadband Wireless Service Showings in 30 Markets
Nextlink Wireless, Inc. announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has accepted Nextlink's demonstrations of substantial service in 30 of its Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) licensed markets. Earlier this week, Nextlink also announced that the FCC granted Nextlink's request for extensions of time on its substantial service showings until June 1, 2012 in 48 additional licensed markets.
3G Wireless Carrier Upgrades GSM/HSPDA Network with WiMAX Broadband Wireless Technology to Add Quality IP Data Services for Its Existing Base of 23 Million Customers
Airspan Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRN) announced that Vodacom Lesotho, a subsidiary of Vodacom Group has selected Airspan as its preferred WiMAX supplier. Airspan will supply its MicroMAX base stations in the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz frequency band in addition to CPEs (customer premise equipment). The contract is through Airspan's reseller partner, TVS.
Skyriver Communications Completes Acquisition of Fixed Wireless Assets of NetHere, Inc.
Skyriver Communications announced that it has completed the acquisition and integration of the fixed wireless assets of NetHere, Inc. Through the acquisition, Skyriver added a large number of business customers and expanded its network to include a substantial portion of Southern San Diego County. This acquisition serves to further solidify Skyriver's dominant position as the largest fixed wireless broadband carrier in Southern California with wireless coverage stretching from north of Los Angeles to the US-Mexico border.
FreeFi Networks Leads Coalition to Provide Enhanced Wi-Fi Service to Roxbury Community College
FreeFi Networks, a Los Angeles-based company offering content and advertiser supported Internet access, today announced the launch of upgraded Wi-Fi service at Roxbury Community College located in Boston, Massachusetts. The launch brings a newly installed and enhanced Internet experience to students, faculty and staff of the college.
Strix Systems Deploys Broadband Wireless Mesh Surveillance Network for the City of Pittsburg in California
Strix Systems announced the deployment of Strix Access/One wireless systems for the City of Pittsburg, California. Strix Access/One was chosen for its ability to deliver the highest throughput and lowest latency wireless mesh network for high quality stationary and mobile IP-based video surveillance.
Aruba Networks to Deliver Secure Broadband Wireless Network to More than 120 K-12 Schools in Oregon's Lane Education Service District Region
Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARUN) announced that Lane Education Service District (ESD), based in Eugene, Oregon, has selected Aruba's wireless LAN technology and identity-based security for its facilities and has recommended deployment to sixteen school districts and more than 120 elementary, intermediate, and high schools in the region.
Setting Marketing Trends in the Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) Industry
Due to mistakes made by Google, Earthlink, Sprint and other big companies in the broadband wireless industry, many members of the press seem to have lost their appetite for wireless Internet service provider stories. Regardless, of the media who now frown on the ability for broadband wireless technology to provide high-speed Internet access, the truth is that there are literally thousands and thousands of companies doing it successfully around the world.
Cisco 'Empowered Branch' Delivers More Applications and New Broadband Wireless Business Models; Opens Routers to Customers and Third-Party Applications
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) announced new broadband wireless solutions that further optimize branch offices of all sizes, allowing companies to customize branch networks to meet their unique business needs. By opening its industry-leading Cisco Integrated Services Router (ISR) and Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) platforms to customers and third-party application developers, Cisco enables its customers to optimize the branch infrastructure while extending their accessibility to business resources. It also provides Cisco channel partners with new opportunities to deliver differentiated solutions and services that better align with customers' business needs.
Sierra Wireless and Wavefront Announce Best Mobile Broadband Wireless and GPS Real Time Location Services Contest
Sierra Wireless Inc. (SW:TO, SWIR:NASDAQ) and Wavefront, a commercialization accelerator for the British Columbia Wireless and New Media industries, announced the launch of the "Sierra Wireless - Wavefront Developer Challenge." The purpose of the six-month challenge is to find best-in-class broadband wireless enterprise or consumer applications that take advantage of the mobile broadband and GPS capabilities built into Sierra Wireless PC cards, ExpressCards, and USB modems.
CenturyTel Pursues Overlay of Existing Operations in 700 MHz Auction
CenturyTel, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) announced that it was the successful bidder for 69 licenses in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recently completed 700 megahertz (MHz) spectrum auction.
Airspan Completes FCC Certification for Full Product Suite in the 3.65 GHz Frequency Band
Airspan Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRN) announced that it has obtained FCC certification to market its compact MicroMAX base station in the 3.65 GHz frequency band as well as the full suite of subscriber devices including the indoor EasyST and outdoor ProST, both of which also support optional WiFi and VoIP extensions.
iPass Expands Tokyo Footprint With Addition of More Than 2,000 Wi-Fi Access Points
iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS) announced it has added the municipal wireless network encircled by Tokyo's Yamanote Line to the iPass global network as part of a roaming agreement with Tokyo-based, livedoor Co. Ltd. With more than 2,000 access points spanning over 60 square kilometers, this Wi-Fi network is one of the largest in the world.
Aruba Networks Selected by University of Wyoming for Pervasive Wireless LAN
Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARUN) announced that the University of Wyoming has selected Aruba's adaptive wireless LAN and AirWave Wireless Management Suite for deployment at its Laramie campus. Founded in 1887 as a land grant institution, the university is today home to more than 13,000 students and the sole provider of baccalaureate and graduate education in the state. The university sought to replace its legacy wireless network with a more reliable, easier to manage solution, and selected Aruba based on its low cost, robust design, and centralized management architecture.
Hughes Initiates SPACEWAY 3 Satellite with First Commercial On-board Satellite Broadband Wireless Internet Traffic Switching and Routing
Hughes Network Systems, LLC, a leader in broadband satellite networks and services and wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: HUGH), announced that it successfully activated the first HughesNet consumer subscriber for broadband Internet service utilizing its SPACEWAY 3 satellite on April 3rd, 2008.
Rogers Broadband Wireless Service Expanded to 55 Additional Communities Completing 'Inukshuk' Spectrum License Rollout
Rogers Wireless announced that broadband wireless Internet acces is now available to customers in 152 urban and rural communities across Canada, including the recent addition of 55 communities. With this expansion, Rogers completes its rollout of the Inukshuk Wireless broadband network and fulfills the federal government's requirement for spectrum license.
Tranzeo Wireless To Equip Mexico's Largest Wireless Broadband System
Wireless mesh network equipment made by Tranzeo Wireless Technologies Inc. (TSX:TZT), a leading producer of high-performance wireless broadband and WiMAX communication systems, will be used to provide wireless Internet access throughout the city of Culiacan, Mexico. The project, "Culiacan: Technological City" is part of an overall plan to improve one of the countries fastest growing cities through 2010.
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