Deployment Best Practices

1. Eric Dentler, Wireless Specialist for Cisco Systems

Eric has prodigious experience in this field. Formerly with Pronto, Air Magnet, and most recently, with Aptilo, Eric is now with Cisco, which I take as evidence of Cisco's hiring. Good Job, Cisco!

"Innovation" has become a buzzword, perhaps "the" buzzword in this space. The five primary deployment models for these networks are as follows: 1) Mixed Use; 2) City-Owned; 3) Ad-Based & Monthly Subscriber; and 4) Specialized netoworks (these migrate to Mixed Use). (Isn't it interesting to see how different people define this industry and the business models?).

Quote of the day, so far: "With Mesh Networks, you are building bridges, so when you go down this path, be sure to look for staying power."

Cisco provides its Service Providers with "Calculator Tools" to measure revenue collection from a mesh network.

Here is the Prescription for Success:
- Take a fresh look, don't recycle an old RFP!! Please!
- Focus on a good End-to-End solution, not a cheap solution
- Look for a regional advantage
- Imagine 1% net new jobs from a wireless deployment
- Look at TCO - total cost of ownership - seek longevity and staying power
- Define the service levels you need
- Calculate the cost of Free
- Envision city micro subsidies, whcih tie wireless system (and capabilities) to city goals

2. Dennis Holmes, Director of Wireless Services, Outsource, Inc. - Dennis provided a more technical focus to his presentation.

3. Bob Phelps, Mayor, City of Farmers Branch, TX - Mayor Phelps gave a testimonial on his personal experience about his wireless project (he's been mayor for 11 years!).

4. Ray Cagle, COO, Kite Networks - This company is seeking to establish a national footprint but with "local sensitivity," by way of participation in municipal wireless projects and through its work with Sprint Broadband. Interesting.

Deployments planned, underway, or complete include Tempe (40 Sq. Mi), ASU (campus deployment), Farmer's Branch, TX (12 SqMi), Longmont, CO (22 SqMi), Yuma, Chandler, and Gilbert, all in AZ.

Be sure to get these slides and look at the one entitled "Assessing an Opportunity" - this is a key slide with criteria to determine if there is a fit between the city and the private partner. While this tool is for the assessment of a city, city officials shold find this helpful b/c it shows you what the vendor is looking for.

Factors that drive a network's viability include 1) population; 2) density; 3) size of network / project; 4) terrain; 5) costs; 6) municipal asset disposition; and 7) Return on Investment. Also, you'll want to assess a) the goals of the municipality; b) key stakeholder players and roles; c) details and costs of network; d) vertical assets; e) backhaul and fiber access; and f) business model.

Finally, think about the power company and the need for both power to the nodes, but also the right to attach to the streetlights. There will be decorative pole issues, as well as the potential need to stabilize existing poles.