Start-up service provider Digital Bridge has launched a fixed/nomadic WiMAX network in Rexburg, Idaho, with plans to expand into southeast Idaho and Montana in the next few months.
The network, built on Alvarion Ltd. certified WiMAX gear, covers 7,000 homes with fixed WiMAX service. The companies will upgrade to the 802.16e mobile standard once it becomes available, via a software upgrade. Digital Bridge has also built out a NOC and back office/CRM infrastructure in support of the service.
The buildout is a public-private partnership; the town gave Digital Bridge free access to its towers in return for affordable service. Tzvika Friedman, Alvarion's president and CEO, noted that the business case for WiMAX in rural areas makes sense. "At $30 to $50 ARPU, plus government funding and regulatory support, it plays out,” the executive said.
"WiMAX is the first time we have a viable solution for rural areas," added Digital Bridge CEO Kelley Dunne, noting that WiMAX's cost/performance ratio will result in achieving ROI in 12 to 18 months. "There are 6,100 towns outside of the top 150 MSAs with populations between 3,000 and 100,000, amounting to 78 million Americans, which have little to no access to broadband. That's a big market.”
Other rural WiMAX deployments include Clearwire Corp.'s service, sprinkled throughout the country, and Alltel Wireless' "ClearWare" service in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
