WebNet Converged Wireless Network (CWN, Booth 63) has launched a private metropolitan Wi-Fi network in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Unlike many municipal wireless mesh networks being announced, WebNet CWN works closely with local government officials, but funds the network planning, buildout and network management with private investment capital, so there is no risk to taxpayers for building city-wide wireless mesh networks that cover entire cities, said the company.
Abbotsford is the first city to be announced in WebNet CWN’s plans to become one of the first nationwide Wi-Fi carriers in Canada and in the United States. WebNet plans to build wireless mesh networks in 25 Canadian cities, plus an additional 100 markets in the United States. So far, the company has sold out the business opportunities in 11 markets and is talking with investors about the remaining 14 markets. WebNet will begin development in the United States once the Canadian Wi-Fi network has been financed.
WebNet has deployed Hopling Technology wireless routers on rooftops and light poles throughout Abbotsford to form a metropolitan mesh network that is operated and optimized using the Hopling wireless network management platform, a suite of end-to-end configuration, monitoring and maintenance tools. The company utilizes Wi-LAN point-to-point radios for high-speed backhaul between the wireless mesh network nodes.
To fund its wireless network, WebNet CWN raises private investment capital by selling a variety of business licenses that allow investors to build out next-generation networks by buying private stock, territory licenses, mesh network licenses and local retail wireless dealership licenses. Each opportunity provides different types of involvement, ranging from working directly with customers to passive business investments, and provides different levels of return on investment.
WebNet CWN also provides money-making opportunities for other business partners that want to get involved with the company’s national buildout. WebNet actively is seeking network partners, such as dark fiber providers; municipal partners, municipalities that do not want to risk taxpayer dollars; rooftop partners, such as property management companies that would like to provide rooftop access to wireless mesh networking equipment; and ISPs that would like to add broadband wireless to their business offerings. All partners receive revenue-sharing opportunities.
