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NEWS

"Wireless Mesh Surges"

From PR Newswire, 23 February (via Light Reading):

"Municipal networks, wireless DSL, and mobile VOIP applications are driving a resurgence of wireless mesh technology as a way to provide low-cost broadband access services, finds a new report from the subscription research service Unstrung Insider (www.unstrung.com/insider).

"The report, entitled Wireless Mesh: From Enterprise to Metro, analyzes mesh architectures for outdoor citywide and neighborhood-scale networks, with analysis of the startup and major-name vendors at the forefront of infrastructure-grade wireless mesh systems.

"According to the report, which compares data on 27 separate wireless mesh products - including US list pricing and street prices - the infrastructure mesh market is poised for substantial growth as equipment starts to mature and municipalities step in as 'anchor tenants' to drive the business case.

"However, it's not all upside in the wireless mesh story: While there is a lot of interest, wireless ISPs and other network operators interviewed for the report consistently stress the need to set realistic performance and coverage expectations for these networks. 'Wireless LAN technology is optimized for local area networks,' says Unstrung Insider Chief Analyst Gabriel Brown. 'Scaling up to the metro level can work, but most deployments today are focused on low-cost "good-enough-to-get-by" coverage; blanket coverage across entire cities isn't yet realistic.'

"Among the report's key findings:

• "The average list price of 27 mesh nodes surveyed in the report is $3,750, with an average price per radio of $1,500.
• "Expect vendors to attack this market with aggressive pricing in 2006; low cost two-radio nodes will be the real battleground.
• "A $1,000 two-radio mesh node is a possibility in 2006, as forward pricing, unit volumes, and large municipal contracts kick in..."

[Mesh: 23 February 2006]