Hot Topics Subscribe to Newsletter Tell a Friend Print this Page 10/11/2007 FTTH Vs. Broadband-Wireless: Different Networks for Different Needs While W2i is committed to exploring local-government operational efficiency improvements and social and economic development through wireless, local authorities' technology decisionmaking may begin a step before this with questions about wireless versus wireline solutions (or both), including Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH). W2i argues that FTTH and wireless infrastructure respond to very different needs in a community and offers a brief compare-and-contrast on the matter. Your comments are invited. FTTH Attributes Large-capacity fixed infrastructure aimed at providing residential and business high-speed access. Longer, more capital-intensive deployment cycles Easier to align with traditional finance as it can be amortized over a long cycle Not usable for portable, nomadic or mobIle services Requires significant take-up rates to support Residential subscription/advertising business model Primary competition is cable Primary driver: home user Secondary driver: government point-to-point connectivity Broadband-Wireless Attributes Multipurpose cloud infrastructure aimed at providing portable, nomadic or mobile services with possible residential and business extension Much shorter and less capital intensive deployment cycles Harder to finance with traditional methods because the amortization must be shorter to reflect faster obsolescence Can be largely justified by government mission critical services and efficiency improvement applications Hybrid business model based on government operations return on investment plus subscription/advertising business models Real competition is 3G cellular networks Primary driver: government operations Secondary driver: commercial road warriors, low cost residential access back Related Items: • Minnesota, Get Broadband Program • W2i Announces 3rd Annual Best Practices Awards Winners • Thanks to Verizon, U.S. in Top 10 in Global FTTH Push • 'City-scale' Means A Whole Lot More Than Infrastructure • 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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