WiMax - costs

It seems that most ISP's will soon be implementing caps on their standard
residential accounts. Comcast already has a 250gb cap and Time Warner is
experimenting with a 25gb cap in Texas.

Would it be practical for neighborhoods to build their own wireless ISP's
using WiMax?

I'm looking into the possibility of building a small, non-profit ISP for the
benefit of my neighborhood of about 10,000 people. Is this doable?

On 21/02/2009 19:25, William R. Cousert wrote:
> It seems that most ISP's will soon be implementing caps on their standard
> residential accounts. Comcast already has a 250gb cap and Time Warner is
> experimenting with a 25gb cap in Texas.
>
> Would it be practical for neighborhoods to build their own wireless ISP's
> using WiMax?

How much money do you have?
<http://www.wimax.com/education/faq/faq52>
>
> I'm looking into the possibility of building a small, non-profit ISP for the
> benefit of my neighborhood of about 10,000 people. Is this doable?
>
>

"LR" <lrme@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:utydnUl2n-0D_j3UnZ2dnUVZ8r2WnZ2d@bt.com...
> On 21/02/2009 19:25, William R. Cousert wrote:
>> It seems that most ISP's will soon be implementing caps on their standard
>> residential accounts. Comcast already has a 250gb cap and Time Warner is
>> experimenting with a 25gb cap in Texas.
>>
>> Would it be practical for neighborhoods to build their own wireless ISP's
>> using WiMax?
>
> How much money do you have?
> <http://www.wimax.com/education/faq/faq52>

From the site
>The typical cost for the license and frequency coordinator services
>typically will run $2,500 to $4,000.

The high end cost of $4,000 divided by 10,000 users is only $.40 each.

I'd like to know roughly what it would cost per user when you factor in
everything (initial cost of the equipment, power usage, phone company
charges, etc...) Is something like this worth doing? Can a non-profit group
compete with the phone and cable companies?

Has anyone done this?

On 21/02/2009 20:48, William R. Cousert wrote:
> "LR"<lrme@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:utydnUl2n-0D_j3UnZ2dnUVZ8r2WnZ2d@bt.com...
>> On 21/02/2009 19:25, William R. Cousert wrote:
>>> It seems that most ISP's will soon be implementing caps on their standard
>>> residential accounts. Comcast already has a 250gb cap and Time Warner is
>>> experimenting with a 25gb cap in Texas.
>>>
>>> Would it be practical for neighborhoods to build their own wireless ISP's
>>> using WiMax?
>> How much money do you have?
>> <http://www.wimax.com/education/faq/faq52>
>
> From the site
>> The typical cost for the license and frequency coordinator services
>> typically will run $2,500 to $4,000.
>
> The high end cost of $4,000 divided by 10,000 users is only $.40 each.
That was only for the "backhaul".

"Obtaining a license to deliver multi-point services in the US,
especially in the 2.5 GHz range is extremely difficult---largely because
there is not much spectrum available. Most of this spectrum range is
controlled by Sprint/Nextel and Clearwire (and soon primarily
Clearwire)---leaving only about fifteen percent of either BRS or EBS
spectrum obtainable. The cost is not insignificant."
> I'd like to know roughly what it would cost per user when you factor in
> everything (initial cost of the equipment, power usage, phone company
> charges, etc...) Is something like this worth doing? Can a non-profit group
> compete with the phone and cable companies?
>
> Has anyone done this?
>
>

"William R. Cousert" <adminDELETE@mousepoopIHATESPAM.com> wrote in message
news:gnpkf2$o0v$1@news.motzarella.org...
> It seems that most ISP's will soon be implementing caps on their standard
> residential accounts. Comcast already has a 250gb cap and Time Warner is
> experimenting with a 25gb cap in Texas.
>
> Would it be practical for neighborhoods to build their own wireless ISP's
> using WiMax?
>
> I'm looking into the possibility of building a small, non-profit ISP for
> the benefit of my neighborhood of about 10,000 people. Is this doable?

WISP - well, someone has to pick up the bills -
There have been several attempts at muni rollouts, and most have failed.
We have large ones in our area - the cans are up on the lightpoles, and it
was running,
but then the realization kicks in - can't make enough money, or even pay for
itself
without the muni backing it with their mobile usage... it has been
shuttered.