“Resisting municipal broadband is futile, as deployments set to double in 2006,” says Visiongain rep Released by: Visiongain Web Site: http://www.visiongainintelligence.com 400 cities worldwide are planning municipal broadband networks & the number will double in 2006. Email: sara.peerun@visiongain.com Keywords: municipal broadband, community broadband initiatives, networks, broadband market, service providers, Update Date: 1/27/2006 6:23:06 AM Hits: 177 Descrption:  Despite intense lobbying from incumbent telcos and cable companies, municipal broadband is coming and is here to stay. As of Q1 2006, there are over 100 regional wireless broadband networks worldwide, more than 40 of which are in the US. New York, San Francisco, Rome and Paris are among the major cities planning wide-scale deployments. While these networks present yet another new threat to the broadband market, there are opportunities to be grasped for service providers if they play their cards right. Vendors such as Motorola, Cisco, HP and IBM are already reaping cumulative contract awards running into hundreds of millions of dollars. “We believe that resistance towards Muni networks is futile,” says lead author Pam Duffey. “It is fast becoming a city or state government duty to provide the means for widespread broadband service. By 2010/2011, we believe the majority of in the US will have a municipal wireless network in place and the focus then will be in uniting them into a national network.” For a large number of reasons, municipalities are considering the concept of a Municipal Broadband Network as the "fifth utility." These communities are choosing between deploying fibre and a wireless broadband network using Wi-Fi hotspots, mesh networks or pre-WiMAX technology. There will be a significant build-out, blending technologies and building on existing service, both wired and unwired. Many technological and business factors need to be considered, any one of which can better or worsen the outcome. Often, cities lack sufficient experience of technologies to make the best choices and compound the problem further by inadequately funding the effort or employing a business model that can not sustain the endeavor. This report examines the various options open to communities in deploying broadband networks, as well as the business models, assessing each approach. It looks at case studies of successful and failed initiatives, identifying and outlining the reasons behind them. The impact that these networks have had and will have on local markets and incumbent operators are also analysed. ENDS Notes for Editors If you are interested in this report, please e-mail sara.peerun@visiongain.com, call Sara on 020 8767 6711 or visit http://www.visiongainintelligence.com/reportDetail.aspx?reportId=1271&tab=1 About visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe. Based in London, Visiongain produces a host of business-2-business conferences, newsletters, management reports and e-zines focusing on the Telecoms, Pharmaceutical and Defence sectors. Visiongain publishes reports produced by its in-house analysts, qualified experts in their field. Visiongain has firmly established itself as the first port-of-call for the business professional, who needs independent, high quality, original material to rely on. Contact infomation: VISIONGAIN, 40, Tooting High Street, London, SW17 0RG; Tel +44(0)20 8767 6711; Fax +44(0)20 8767 5001