Hot Topics Subscribe to Newsletter Tell a Friend Print this Page 10/18/2007 Toronto Still on Top in Best of Metro-Scale Wi-Fi Rankings Last year W2i partner Novarum, a strategic-consulting firm, launched a survey of metropolitan broadband-wireless networks in North America, focusing on Wi-Fi, WiMAX and 3G cellular data. Novarum’s research aim is to “cut through the confusion of the overlapping range of broadband, IP-based, licensed and unlicensed wireless data technologies,” says Phil Belanger, cofounder and wireless networking veteran. Novarum conducts its studies based on the premise that networks will change over time across a range of variables and because of emerging factors. (As an op-ed by Phil this week relays, innovations such as more powerful client devices can have a great impact on performance.) Novarum has also poked holes in the notion that cellular data services are ubiquitous, and its latest round of test results — published in the Novarum Wireless Broadband Review — shows not only that Wi-Fi remains an attractive choice for citywide wireless networking, average metro Wi-Fi performance is twice that of 3G cellular data services. Novarum surveyed networks in 16 cities — more than fifty wireless services in all — through the first half of 2007, including new city reports on metro-scale Wi-Fi and cellular data services in Philadelphia PA, Portland OR, Rochelle IL, Santa Clara CA, Tempe AZ and Mountain View CA. “The balance of the analysis from our Wireless Broadband Review shows that Metro Wi-Fi is far from dead — it is simply entering a more rational phase of development,” said Ken Biba, Novarum Co-Founder. “A useful Metro Wi-Fi network costs more to deploy than has been hyped, but may indeed deliver a higher quality of service at a lower cost than other wireless broadband alternatives.” Novarum's report also features Novarum’s Best of Wireless 2007, including: • Best Overall Cellular Data Service - Verizon in Mountain View • Best Overall Metro Wi-Fi Service - Toronto OneZone • Most Improved Metro Wi-Fi Service - EarthLink’s Feather network in Philadelphia where the investment in additional node density points the way to creating a wireless network that users desire Other Novarum findings from the NWBR 1H 2007 Summary Report include: • The choice of subscriber client device makes a key difference in service availability and performance for Metro Wi-Fi networks. • Cellular data services improve performance - the deployment of 1xEVDO Rev A and HSPA increase performance by 30% overall and more for uploads. • Technology to the rescue - Wi-Fi subscriber clients based on the new standard IEEE 802.11n dramatically improve metro Wi-Fi network performance and user experience. • 3G cellular data services are still not ubiquitous in the North America. True 3G had a 60% Service Availability in the cities tested. • Metro Wi-Fi continues to deliver twice the performance of 3G cellular data services on average. • Metro Wi-Fi node density is increasing. 40 is not enough - a successful Metro Wi-Fi network needs at least 40 nodes per square mile to deliver a service that is attractive to customers. To inquire about the full report, contact Phil Belanger at (330) 283-4200. back Related Items: • York County, PA • W2i Announces 3rd Annual Best Practices Awards Winners • ITIF Releases National Broadband Policy Report • Dillon: Avoid Taking a Long and Arduous Path • Doug Townsend, IT Director, Medford (OR) - Part 2 • Tallahassee `08 Comments No records were found. Post new comment: Only registered users can add comments. Please Log-in

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