|
Patrick, DBC purchased an existing company (Teton Wireless) that was using their 2.5ghz license for Television and internet service. They started 10 years ago with just TV and added internet about 3-4 years ago. So, technically they are not a "start-up" as they purchased an existing business and license. They also didn't raise money, but rather sold another business (cellular I believe) and used that money to buy this business. They are in the game for the short-haul, trying to get as many customers as possible with the full intent to sell it off. And I'm not sure I really need a lecture on the "I can" model... having started a WISP in 1997 from scratch (no outside investors, no outside money) and now with over 4,000 subs in the air, over 500 DSL customers, fiber customers, dedicated p2p customers, etc. I think I understand how it works. We started building our own DOS based routers with WaveLan 900mhz ISA cards back in 1997, when there was NOTHING on the market that was cost effective to make this business model work. The dot-bomb crash had ZERO affect on our business and we continue to grow every year. My point to the original email was you can't just stick an AP in the air and think you are going to do "truckless" installs with roaming clients like the video clip pictured. With millions of dollars, yes it can be done... but not otherwise. Travis Microserv Patrick Leary wrote: DBC uses 2.5 GHz. They did not exist as an operator one year ago. They are a start-up that raised money. Nothing prevents WISPs from doing this sort of thing too Travis and I know a few WISPs who are in fact doing this very thing.Travis, anyone can provide tons of reasons why something can't be done, but someone always comes along who says "I can" and they do. It is that group of people who dare who become the next set of millionaires. As for the model, the DBC guys are pros who have been around the block. They deployed several thousand unlicensed CPEs a few years back in another company. It is not like they are just winging it. And in any event, chances are a guy like this gets bought out a few years from now for a good-sized multiple of the original investment. Also, WISPs need to understand that the financial world considers licensed band leases as assets, not expenses. Why do you think a company like Clearwire that is losing money hand over fist has a $3.5B valuation? It is because of the value of their licensed holdings primarily. Patrick Leary AVP, Market Development Alvarion, Inc. o: 650.314.2628 c: 760.580.0080 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit Alvarion at WiMAX World Chicago, September 25-27 Booth #409 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 1:29 PM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] OT: video of news segment in Idaho about a new localWiMAX service Everyone should realize this is a licensed frequency (2.3ghz?) and that the base stations are very expensive. So, if you have a few million dollars (I think they actually paid $7 million for the license in our area about 10 years ago, with a population of 150,000 people) and want to spend a few more million for AP's and CPE's, you should be able to breakeven in about 1,000 years. ;) Travis Microserv Patrick Leary wrote:http://youtube.com/watch?v=6fag7cy2Nr4 Our customer, Digital Bridge Communications (DBC), sent this video tome |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** Join us at the WISPA Reception at 6:30 PM on October the 16th 2007 at ISPCON ** ** ISPCON Fall 2007 - October 16-18 - San Jose, CA www.ispcon.com ** ** THE INTERNET INDUSTRY EVENT ** ** FREE Exhibits and Events Pass available until August 31 ** ** Use Customer Code WSEMF7 when you register online at http://www.ispcon.com/register.php ** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
