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« Who's Hot Today? Carlisle (Penn.) | Main | SF Concerns Raised by Oversight Commission »

December 20, 2005

Minneapolis Bidder Reveals More Details

Minneapolis bidder offers cut-rate plans, more details: Two finalists remain in building a citywide fiber and wireless network: US Internet and EarthLink. The former proposes a $16/month rate for low-income residents; regular rates would still undercut current cable and DSL broadband pricing. (Until the incumbents offer 1-year, 60% rates as they have in other communities.)

The article notes Minneapolis will shift $1.5 to $2.5 million in telecom costs (voice and cellular) to the new network, while US Internet estimates $25 million in expense to build the hybrid network. EarthLink did not provide a number.

US Internet also plans to deploy what sounds like 4.9 GHz public safety wireless alongside regular Wi-Fi. EarthLink will use a VPN and a VLAN, although the article makes it sound like it's just a VPN. US Internet will use WiMax for backhaul; EarthLink will use Motorola Canopy, which ain't far from WiMax. (The article paraphrases an analyst, who says EarthLink "every third Wi-Fi hot spot would relay information back to the data center through a series of Wi-Fi interconnections." It's a paraphrase to be sure: it's not Wi-Fi at all, but unlicensed point-to-multipoint.)

The article ends with a local group's position that the city shouldn't bid out and contract out this network. The city's point person says words that should please every moderate, while probably inflaming pro- and anti-municipal advocates: "The city lacks the money, competence and ability to build and manage that kind of a network right now."

3 Comments

Two issue here.
ref USWireless approach:
As a past resident of MPLS/St.Paul I can tell you that these folks have mucho trees which will create a problem for any 4.9Ghz based Public Safety network. Especially if USWireless is considering using the Motorola MotoMesh product-which is very expensive and very limiting in bandwidth and will have major propagation issues. If however they are combining the Licensed 4.9Ghz and Unlicensed WiFi based (2.4 & 5Ghz) in a multiple radio (4 Radios) Node like Strix they would have a viable solution. This way the Police/Fire teams can go between the two networks (using VLANs in Unlicensed realm) and maximize performance.
Earthlink: Come on guys a single radio system using Gateways every 2 or 3rd hops with Canopy PTMP feeds is folly. The City will have to provide this provider with so many Roof and Tower rights to install the Broadcast gateway radios that the network and neighborhoods will look like a Antenna Farm. Also I would have serious concerns about the ability of my Public Safety folks to use this design when a major event requires multiple Fire and Police crews operating in and around a single Node.
The USWireless approach appears to be the best technical solution of the two and with its local presence, a key for this Politically correct city they should win.

Jacomo

The reporter misrepresented ILSR's position - we think Minneapolis should own its network, but have taken no position on whether the city should contract with a private company for network management. It should also be noted that while the bidders talk about wireless backhaul, the RFP calls for completion of a 72 strand fiber loop connecting city properties - something that will be with the city for a lot longer than whatever wireless solution is chosen.
I have no allegiance to, or relationship with, either company. But US Internet's proposal would work well within our framework - the city funds the capex, then awards US Internet a contract to manage the network. The city maintains ownership control, and maintains the right to periodically rebid the contract. This gives them leverage against prices and service quality, and ensures that we aren't forced to negotiate with the owner of the network for decades to come, as has been the case with the cable franchise.
It's clear from Philadelphia that Earthlink wants to own its own pipes. We think that model of network-based competition is an outdated idea that won't help Minneapolis, or any other city, catch up on broadband.
This RFP is very different than Philadelphia and other cities that want residential services. It's purpose is to meet municipal needs. It should be municipally owned.

Jacomo's concern of "trees and interference" is solved and mitigated by Motorola Canopy 900 MHz backhaul technology for Non-Line of Sight issues such as trees and buildings. And any concerrn about cross channel talk is solve by the OFDM technology which uses GPS sychconization in a real time basis (ok almost real time) There are systems in place in forests and rural hills using 900 Mhz Backhaul technology. Also the Motorola Canopy technology easily extends any fiber system and is migratable to WiMax.