In North America the internet market is currently sitting at around the 74% penetration level mark, which means around 252 million North American residents have internet access. Of that percentage, around 90 million have broadband access and wireless broadband is beginning to play a large part in the North American market. Like other broadband markets most North American providers will offer free wireless broadband equipment like wireless routers to new customers in order to provide access to the internet around the home without invasive network cabling. The US and Canada both consider themselves to be world leaders when it comes to broadband connectivity and in recent years the proliferation of fibre optic services offering faster connections have been able to take the US market even further towards the ideal. The North American broadband market has also fully embraced the idea of Wi-Fi hotspots, with cities and suburban areas well serviced with such connectivity options. Some require subscription or payment whilst others are free to access. Wi-Fi in North America has been used to tackle issues such as the expensive nature of landline broadband in areas of poverty.

North America was some way behind Europe when it comes to Mobile Broadband. Whilst 3G and HSDPA is common in EU states, North America was still largely operating using 2G networks which offer much slower transfer speeds. However, 2009 has seen an overall improvement in the availabitliy and cost of high speed mobile broadband. Verizon Wireless is one of the USA`s leading mobile broadband providers and will be pushing the availability and speed of their mobile broadband service over the coming years. Mobile broadband is just one of the many low cost wireless broadband solutions which is going to play an integral part in the spread of broadband into every North American home.

The future of wireless broadband and the fates of the next big http://www.broadbandexpert.com.au/broadband/wireless-broadband wireless broadband providers in North America will lie with WiMAX technology. Major providers like Sprint and Nextel are already slated to be the most common providers of WiMAX technology, which is essential Wi-Fi broadcast on a much larger scale and offering considerably faster download speeds. However, there are many competing licencese of WiMAX frequencies and as such subscribers to difference WiMAX providers outside of the obvious large telecommunications companies are predicted to number in the 10s of millions by 2012. The 4th generation of mobile communications networking will also be commonly available by 2012 and 2010 is expected to be the starting date for widespread trials by the largest North American providers. Experts also expect to see, as you might expect, considerable focus on the business and governmental applications of wireless broadband technologies like WiMAX over the first few years after their inception. Consumer products may take a little longer to reach the North American market, though there is little doubt that when they do wireless broadband will be at the forefront of internet connectivity. What makes wireless broadband so attractive is the fact that there is no need to install the technology in individual home or by tearing up streets or erecting telegraph poles.

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No usually large scale deals between companies bears little significance to everyones day to day life. But not this deal, not this time. Sprint’s and Clearwire’s agreement puts them in the drivers seat to possibly launch the largest broadband wireless internet provider in the nation using state of the art WiMax technology. This technology backed by industry heavyweights like Intel, Microsoft and Sprint have pitted the otherwise small Nextel/Sprint clearly in a let’s push our advantage against the larger incumbents including AT&T and Verizon.

If you look at Clearwire.com you can get an idea of the competition we are looking at for the Broadband Internet, Phone and even cable duopolies currently operating in much of the Country. Not to mention the literally millions of people left in the Internet dark ages from their homes due to cost and lack of availability of inexpensive broadband.

What does this mean to you and to me? Well it means more opportunity, more availability and better communication and information for all. It means rural customers won’t be left in the lurch depending on dial up when you offer up an informative video, pdf or other online documentation of your product and service. Did you want to see that horse I had for sale, oh a brochure, sure just send it to me in the mail. A few days or a week later when it comes, does the customer even want to see your horse now?

There are innovations and opportunities afforded by a new universal broadband that were inconceivable before the proliferation of the Internet age, but now that Google and Microsoft are two of the largest profit based US companies even outstripping GM, Ford and many other previous stalwarts.

In the short term Sprint and Clearwire (Clearwire Wireless) plans to launch Broadband Wireless using Wimax technology throughout the United States in Select markets.

“Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks will enter into wholesale agreements with the new Clearwire, becoming 4G providers of new Clearwire’s mobile WiMAX service.”
from the Press release – what does that mean? It means you can expect expanded service offerings from Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House to rebrand Clearwire’s service into homes throughout the country.

Since this deal doesn’t cement until the 4th quarter this year roll outs are only scheduled in a few select markets

But keep tabs on Clearwire, they have more Wireless Broadband Access than any other current provider and this step looks to have them leap frog over the competition. Well at least until Verizon and AT&T roll out LTE (Long Term Evolution)

“The reason we’re excited about WiMAX is because I think it is a disruptor. . . It is very affordable and as a result, you can now connect rural areas and metro areas. Furthermore, it is complimentary with existing technologies.”

http://gigaom.com/2007/10/03/for-motorola-wimax-promise-of-a-comeback/

Go Zoe Wireless provides broadband access throughout East Texas and I’ve secured and exclusive e-mail interview.

1. How long have you been interested in technology and providing wireless
internet in particular?

Ashton: 5 yrs at least

2. What experiences have prepared you for running Gozoe Wireless today?

Ashton: Truly just running any business helps and Ihave managed and run 4
businesses in different fields before buying my own Computer retail store.
I have also done a lot of simple wireless networks in homes and estates
involving indoor and outdoor having lots of problems which equates to lots
of research and learning.
3. What areas do you serve currently?

Ashton: Marshall, Scottsville, Woodlawn, Leigh community, Shadowood estates, Cross
Roads, Hidden Lake and Underwood Road, Industrial Park, ETBU Campus.
4. Where are you planning to expand to next?Ashton: Elysian Fields, Harleton, Jefferson, Hallsville, Carthage, Waskom.

5. What are the advantages of your service over satellite or other
broadband providers?

Ashton: We are not only the least expensive “last mile” solution we are by far the
fastest or largest bandwidth capable solution. We have extremely low
latency for gamers which is a real problem for satellite also VPN
connections for businesses drop with high latency.

6. What does your service generally cost?

Ashton: Basic Residential is $49.95/month

7. What are the installation fees if any?

$120

8. How fast is your service? What is the upload and download?

Ashton: Dedicated 512 up and down bursting to 1.5MB up and down
we can give up to 10/MB

9. What made East Texas a popular market you thought needed to be served?

Ashton: Basically no one else was doing it and the 900MHZ frequency just got solid
and affordable which is necessary because of the thick foliage in East
Texas.

10. I know you recently blanketed the campus of East Texas Baptist
University with Wireless Access, what can you say about this partnership
agreement and how it benefits the Faculty, Students and Staff at the
campus.
Ashton: This is a unique situation we are taking an undue load from the
University’s IT department which found itself supporting an entertainment technology more than a research tool. Which is more our specialty plus we were able to stay in our specialty by providing something it did notcurrent ly have wireless everywhere on campus. We also are going to provide
more than twice the bandwidth the students currently have access to now.

11. Do you foresee the need to acquire wireless spectrum such as that
being vacated by Analog Television broadcasts to secure your niche wireless
access for the Rural East Texas consumer?

Ashton: No there is not a problem or not too much in the unlicensed bands yet.

12. How then do you feel you can continue to compete when large carriers
are sure to roll out WIMAX in the future?

Ashton: First of all we are already here it will be hard to convince people to drop
a first class system that is working well. Plus cost for Wimax won’t be
cheap at first.

13. What advantages does your service currently offer, over your current competition?

Ashton: We can install very quickly and go where many of them cannot and the ones that can go everywhere we strongly outperform.

14. What do you foresee as your competitive edge as other carriers roll out Wimax nationwide?

Ashton: We are wimax ready when it is cost effective and widespread we can change a radio card in our Access points and we are wimax ready just that simple. We are completely wimax ready at ETBU.

13. I know your service provides Internet for many areas of East Texas,
what is your service’s contact information for anyone that’s interested?

Gozoe Wireless LLP
2660 east end blvd S.
suite 113
Marshall, texas 75672
903-935-0876

This is good new for those seeking rural broadband access as Clearwire is constantly improving their network coverage and should get even greater range and mobility as they deploy WIMAX capability.

This information was found at ENGADGET and verified online at www.clearwire.com

Keep your eyes open and look to another alternative for broadband to pop up in your area!

C

It could be if a new industry consortium gets its way. And with the big boys setting aside their numerous differences and coming together to support this initiative, it could really gain some traction. (Those big boys are namely Microsoft and Google!)

What does this mean and what is the chatter about. Digital Television! HDTV mandates that in 2009 Analog broadcasts will be shut down. This may leave those in rural areas with fewer choices for TV except Satellite or Cable if they can get it, but it could mean an influx of Wireless Internet Providers. The catch is that Analog television takes a lot more spectrum than a Digital broadcast, this leaves lots of available spectrum for other purposes when the Analog shut off takes place. The White Spaces Coalition seeks to open that spectrum up for Wireless data and internet providers, potentially using it to present all types of data to the rural consumers this white space could serve.

I say good luck, as you can see, there is still lots of room for providers in this market even as the big boys like Sprint and Intel push WiMax, rural broadband is still a stretch for many Americans.

Source: Ars Technica

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