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The Future of Municipal Wireless Networks (Review Report)

Datamonitor
July 9, 2007
48 Pages - SKU: DFMN1526801

Abstract Table of Contents Search inside this report Related Reports

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

Compare your sales strategies to those used by leading vendors in the municipal wireless market

DATAMONITOR VIEW
CATALYST
SUMMARY
METHODOLOGY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Introduction; Understanding the Emerging Market for Municipal Wireless Networks (Market Focus); Choosing the Right Business Model for Municipal Wireless Networks (Strategy Focus); Applications: Providing the Value in Municipal Wireless Networks (Technology Focus); US & UK Municipal Wireless Spending Through 2012 (Databook)
UNDERSTANDING THE EMERGING MARKET FOR MUNICIPAL WIRELESS NETWORKS (MARKET FOCUS): Summary; Municipal wireless will change how local governments and citizens communicate; Bleeding edge communities lead the market for municipal wireless; Successful communities will focus on a primary goal for municipal wireless; The need for improved government operations drives municipal wireless initiatives; Municipal wireless promises to bridge the digital divide; Innovation attracts economic development; Vendors must work with governments to overcome financial and political challenges; Governments struggle to justify the high costs of deploying and operating municipal wireless networks; Fear of political backlash may thwart municipal wireless plans; Action Points; Focus on the community's primary goal for municipal wireless; Recognize that digital inclusion involves more than low-cost internet access; Involve multiple stakeholders in the planning process
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BUSINESS MODEL FOR MUNICIPAL WIRELESS NETWORKS (STRATEGY FOCUS): Summary; Business models and ecosystems are critical factors in municipal wireless efforts; Success of a municipal wireless initiative depends on its supporting business model; The completely public model offers local governments total authority over their municipal wireless network; A public-private partnership allows municipalities and service providers to focus on their core strengths; An anchor tenant relationship promises the most success for municipal wireless networks; Choosing the right partners is crucial for municipal wireless networks; Services providers lead the move towards public-private partnerships; AT&T extends its DSL business with municipal wireless; BT partners with 12 UK cities for municipal wireless; EarthLink offers municipal wireless via public-private partnerships with local governments; MetroFi partners with local governments for municipal wireless projects; The Cloud provides an open wireless network for municipalities and service providers; US Internet builds municipal wireless networks in public-private partnerships; Networking companies provide the backbone of municipal wireless networks; Alvarion provides WiMAX equipment for backhaul; BelAir Networks's multi-radio equipment create mesh networks; Firetide equipment enables mesh networks; Nortel equipment and applications support municipal wireless; PacketHop extends fixed mesh networks; Proxim Wireless increases focus on mesh networks; SkyPilot's primary focus is municipal wireless; Strix Systems manufactures multiple-radio equipment; Tropos Networks takes a software-based approach; Content providers, search engines and systems integrators also play important roles in municipal wireless; Google attempts to bring attention to the municipal wireless market; IBM acts as a systems integrator on municipal wireless projects; LastMile Communications delivers local content over municipal wireless networks; Action Points; Require the municipality to commit to the network as an anchor tenant; Clarify the boundaries of overlapping responsibilities early to ensure end-user satisfaction; Enter into an agreement with a joint understanding of the municipality's assets
APPLICATIONS: PROVIDING THE VALUE IN MUNICIPAL WIRELESS NETWORKS (TECHNOLOGY FOCUS): Summary; The power of municipal wireless networks lie in the applications they support; Public works applications allow departments to be more productive; Automatic meter reading applications streamline utility data collection; Smart parking meter applications enable municipalities to collect more revenue; Public safety applications help communities prevent and investigate crime in real time; The 4.9 GHz band isolates public safety traffic; Video surveillance applications help public safety agencies patrol city areas remotely; Field worker applications allow agencies to provide better service to constituents; Municipal wireless networks allow case workers to accomplish more work in the field; Inspection applications supported by municipal wireless networks eliminate redundant processes; Action Points; Ensure network usage with the right applications; Search for the killer app that will push municipal wireless over the tipping point; Involve end-users in the decision-making process
US & UK MUNICIPAL WIRELESS SPENDING THROUGH 2012 (DATABOOK): Introduction; Total US & UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012; US municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012; US municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 by municipal population; UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012; UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 by municipal population
APPENDIX: Definitions; Acronyms; References; Extended methodology; Further reading; Ask the analyst
List of Tables: Table 1: Total US & UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 ($ Millions); Table 2: US municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 ($ Millions); Table 3: US municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 by municipal population ($ Millions); Table 4: UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 ($ Millions); Table 5: UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 by municipal population ($ Millions)
List of Figures: Figure 1: A handful of communities are on the bleeding edge of the municipal wireless trend; Figure 2: The market for municipal wireless networks in the US and UK will explode over the next five years; Figure 3: Government efficiency and public safety top localities' expected benefits for municipal wireless; Figure 4: A large divide still exists between those with access to the internet and those without; Figure 5: Costs are the largest hurdle for local governments to overcome when investigating municipal wireless initiatives; Figure 6: In a municipally-owned model, the local government acts as the service provider; Figure 7: A public-private model allows each entity to concentrate on its strengths; Figure 8: An anchor tenant relationship provides the municipality and the service provider with more influence over the network's design; Figure 9: The ecosystem for municipal wireless; Figure 10: Improving internal government operations is the top goal for municipal wireless; Figure 11: Total US & UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 ($ Millions); Figure 12: US municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 ($ Millions); Figure 13: US municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 by municipal population ($ Millions); Figure 14: UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 ($ Millions); Figure 15: UK municipal wireless spending, 2006-2012 by municipal population ($ Millions)

The Future of Municipal Wireless Networks (Review Report)

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