3.65GHz

Is 3.65GHz Cost/Effective?

Posted by samc on July 23rd, 2007

Frank Ohrtman on Wimax.com gives his take on 3.65 WiMAX :

The FCC’s recent Report and Order opening 3.65 GHz as “non-exclusive access” might have many potential WiMAX operators equating it with unlicensed spectrum such as 2.4 or 5.8 GHz. While it is true that 3.65 GHz use will not enjoy the protections of a licensed spectrum, there are a number of differentiators.

First, a WiMAX base station costs about $10,000. This presents, relative to Wi-Fi operations, a high barrier to entry. Competing users for the spectrum will be limited to the better financed end of the market spectrum. That is, hobbyists are largely eliminated. That might also include “community” operations operated and funded by volunteers.

Small businesses running private networks might also be eliminated from use of this spectrum given the cost of the base stations and the need to show some RoI on the investment in $10,000 base stations as compared with Wi-Fi access points at $500 or less a piece.

One significant upside to the 3.65 GHz ruling is that the quest for a nationwide footprint is largely possible for service providers. I predict a Boingo-like play where one can buy into a nationwide roaming agreement for 3.65 GHz WiMAX. Ditto for “pay-by-the-day” services similar to those found in airports and hotspots. Opportunities for smaller operators to deploy base stations and collect on roaming, “pay-by-the-day” and advertising revenues (all plays borrowed from Wi-Fi) will do just fine.

Steve Stroh’s Broadband Wireless Internet Access blog has more details on the 3650 MHz plan. In related news, Steve launched The Independent Clearwire Blog this week. He is paying full-price for his service and providing a real-world user’s perspective.

source : dailywireless.org