Wireless Mesh Networking

Deployment Strategies and Equipment Forecasts for Municipal Wi-Fi and Campus Networks

Three years after the implosion of Metricom’s Richochet service, metro-scale wireless mesh networking is once again generating excitement as several marquee cities, including Philadelphia, San Francisco and Taipei, announce deployment plans. Broadband services that use wireless mesh infrastructure are already active in many smaller communities, such as Chaska, Minnesota and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. This study examines the trends for both metro-scale and campus-scale wireless mesh networking technology on a worldwide basis. Key business and technology issues are discussed and analyzed, including market drivers and challenges, the introduction of WiMAX into Wi-Fi-based networks, and the regulatory impact of current and pending legislation concerning municipal broadband deployments in the United States. The market is sized for 2004 and a forecast is provided for the period from 2005 through 2010. Key equipment vendors are profiled, including: BelAir Networks, Cisco Systems, Firetide, MeshDynamics, Motorola, Nortel Networks, PacketHop, Rajant, RoamAD, SkyPilot and Strix Systems.