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OCT 8, 2009

A Wireless Evolution

A Wireless Evolution
An evolution is occurring in wireless and portable computing: Wireless Internet. As with many evolutions, it is a slow and complicated process. There is confusion, hype, unrealistic expectations. There are multiple players: wireless operators, device manufacturers, infrastructure vendors, software developers, content providers, advertisers, marketers. The industry is progressing, but in turmoil. Consumers want wireless Internet access, but they often can't get what they want. But there are good solutions right now, and more are on the way. Next-generation cellular systems, public wireless LANs and new phones and PDAs offer significantly increased value. Wireless can also be fun, with bright color screens, great-sounding ring tones and music and games.

Aiding the Evolution
Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing helps ameliorate the difficulties and unravels the complexities, especially in these turbulent political and economic times. Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing is a consulting company for the wireless industry and enterprises -- for manufacturers, software developers, advertisers, content providers, the financial community and corporate users. We help jump-start new businesses and enhance existing businesses in wireless data around the world. Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing is a unique company. We don't react to wireless data developments. We anticipate them, and use our expertise to help our clients create profitable businesses. We analyze and help corporations develop products and services in such areas as: Exciting, valuable and profitable wireless applications, including: E-mail and instant messaging; entertainment (music, games, ring tones, graphics); digital photography; information services; shopping; portals Integrating wireless LANs (802.11) with wireless WANs Effective multi-tiered pricing Innovative multi-product/service bundling Proactive customer support, education and marketing We provide strategic analysis, executive workshops and seminars, confidential reports and white papers.

International Expertise
Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing is known for its global perspective. We understand the dynamics of

international wireless data efforts. Whether it's in Europe, Asia or Latin America, we've studied the products, spoken to the wireless data leaders and presented corporate policy sessions. If you conduct business in the U.S. and want to explore overseas opportunities or if you're outside of the U.S. and want to explore entering the American market, we can help you .

A History of Expertise
As a consulting firm for corporations, we've been operating since 1996 -beginning when the "experts" dismissed integrating wireless and the Internet. Our president has been analyzing wireless, with an emphasis on leading-edge products and services, since 1978. No one is more experienced in wireless Internet. If you need wireless Internet consulting services , you really do need Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing. Speaking, Workshops and Conferences Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing speaks around the world at public conferences and confidential corporate strategy sessions. Some of our unique presentations and workshops include: Wireless communications is not an easy category to understand. There are multiple networks, standards and devices, different types of coverage, a wide variety of applications, many pricing options and sometimes misleading information from the wireless data industry. There are more resources available to corporations, from systems integrators and value-added resellers, for example, because corporations are able to pay for help. But a smart corporation must also educate itself. Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing has put together some bullet points for corporations to consider when planning their wireless communications strategies for crisis situations. This list is meant to be just the start of your planning. Are your employees equipped with multiple forms of communications that could be employed in emergency situations? Do all your employees computing devices -- notebook computers and PDAs -- include landline access, via a dial-up modem and/or an Ethernet connection?

Have you looked at equipping employees with: one-way or two-way pagers, cellular voice phones, cellular voice and data phones, PDAs with wireless connections (built in or external), notebooks with wireless connections (built in or external)? Do your employees know how to best take advantage of their devices' capabilities during emergencies? Do all your phones have one-way or two-way SMS capabilities and do employees know how to use SMS? Are your employees familiar with information services that could be useful during emergencies? Does anyone in your company periodically check wireless services that could be useful in emergencies to ensure that the services are still operating and providing appropriate information? Does your corporate Web site list "emergency communications procedures and guidelines"? Is your corporation ready to post emergency communications recommendations at a moment's notice? Do your employees have emergency contact numbers -- landline and cellular phones and pagers -- for each other? Is there any office or person employees may contact in crisis situations? Has your company wirelessly-enabled critical databases or information sources that could be valuable in an emergency? Has your company considered using group SMS or group paging software to notify employees during emergencies? Are your employees familiar with voice-based information services, including group communications capabilities? Has your corporation looked at office-in-a-pocket type of applications that combine PIM functionality as well as the capability to read e-mail attachments, and print and fax documents with wireless commands? Has your corporation implemented security software for all remote connections -wired and wireless -- and do all employees know how to use security procedures?

Using Wireless Data to Help
People with cellular phones are well aware of the value of voice communications in an emergency. Unfortunately, the value of wireless data services to help during a crisis has not been sufficiently explained by the wireless industry. Here are a few ways wireless data can help: Travel information: This is a huge category. Think how useful it would be to easily obtain schedules for airlines, trains and buses. Think about getting this information automatically sent to your pager, cellular phone or wireless-enabled PDA. Some of this information is already available via wireless. There is less information for wireless about train and bus schedules. Considering the state of airline schedules now, and the increased fear of flying, there is likely to be continued growth in travel by trains and

buses. Obtaining information via data can alleviate waiting to speak to a travel representative. It can be faster, more efficient and cheaper. Business and communications: While voice communications is the killer app of cellular, there are a variety of tremendously useful communications capabilities for wireless devices. Short Messaging Services (SMS) via cellular phones, two-way messaging via pagers, e-mail access via pagers and phones, instant messaging now available via some cellular phones and pagers, and sending the same message via text or voice mail, are all extremely powerful services for emergency situations. Two-way paging has been primarily a business service because of the expense, but that's changing. SMS is a youth-oriented service but can be a useful business tool, as it is in much of the rest of the world. E-mail is easy to send and receive via pagers with keyboards and PDAs. Instant messaging is used more by the youth but also can be a valuable business service. Wireless' communications capabilities are rather well known, but the value of text-based messaging during emergencies still requires more education. Location technology: The wireless industry has spent years wrestling with how to implement location-related services. The U.S. government has mandated implementation of Enhanced 911 (E-911) services by October 2001, but wireless operators have asked the Federal Communications Commission for extensions of time in which to offer E-911. There are complicated issues of which technologies to use, how to pay for the expensive systems, what type of wireless devices to produce, etc. But all these issues can be overcome. The ability to track wireless devices has significant security and life-saving implications. Of course, location technology also has significant issues of personal privacy. My assumption is there is an excellent chance that the government will be much more aggressive in "urging" -- or simply ordering -- the wireless industry to implement location technology in the name of national security. Access to corporate information: If significant delays continue at airports, access to corporate information while on the road will become even more important. There are many options -- enterprise software and a variety of wireless devices -- that can improve communications with the office. If you're stuck at an airport or train terminal for hours or attempting to call your office on a landline phone when "all circuits are busy," employing wireless data communications to send or receive critical information can be tremendously useful. Wireless entertainment: At a time like this, do we really want to even think about something as "frivolous" as entertainment? That's a very good question. Entertainment doesn't diminish the horror of terrorism or the seriousness of the military and political actions to come. But at a time like this, might it be nice to be able to take our minds off current events, if only for a little while? The category of wireless entertainment includes playing games on your wireless device, listening to music stored on your device, downloading ringtones to your phone, purchasing tickets to entertainment events and, in the future, receiving brief video clips. Emergency information: This can run the gamut from phone numbers of public safety organizations to first aid suggestions, all available via wireless. Inspiration: Whether or not you're religious, millions of people do find comfort in the Bible and other religious works. The ability to receive a Bible verse every day or even

read chapters from the Bible, could be a valuable service, especially under crisis situations.

Good New and Bad News
From a travel information standpoint, a significant number of resources are already available, for example, obtaining airlines schedules via wireless and making reservations. However, few people use these services. Many people don't know the services exist. The wireless industry has, in general, done a terrible job (I believe it has been inept) in educating consumers on an ongoing basis about how to take advantage of wireless data services. However it is not difficult to develop easy-to-use travel information services. Nor is it difficult to provide wireless subscribers with information about how to best use these services. Location technologies are more difficult to implement and there are a myriad of issues to be resolved. But this is not a case of designing a faster-than-light spacecraft! Location technologies and corresponding services certainly can be implemented with today's technologies. Access to corporate information is not always easy but it is indeed becoming increasingly more convenient because of a wide variety of software solutions and devices, such as data-capable cellular phones, two-way pagers and wireless-enabled PDAs and notebook computers. Wireless services include access to corporate calendars and address books, e-mail, databases and even the ability to have files printed and sent to customers via FedEx or the U.S. Postal Service. Entertainment services are growing dramatically. There are many types of games, some of them surprisingly sophisticated, for wireless devices. Some games are embedded on a cellular phone and require no access to a wireless network; other games offer the ability to play against other wireless users around the world. Phones are being designed with data storage options to music (or corporate information) can be stored on memory cards. Religious information is available all over the Internet, and it's not difficult to receive a Bible verse-of-the-day on a wireless device. In addition, receiving text-only information via wireless is certainly do-able by connecting a cellular phone to a laptop computer or using a wireless-enabled PDA. Wireless data speeds are typically 9.6K bps to 14K bps. Faster speeds will be available in the U.S. next year and are already available in Europe and parts of Asia. But even with today's slow speeds, a great deal of text-based information can be delivered quickly and economically over paging and cellular networks. Web sites that are not graphics-intensive can be viewed on wireless devices, especially on notebook computers and PDAs with wireless modems.

The Bottom Line
Wireless data networks and products are far from perfect. Coverage and inbuilding penetration requirement improvements. Data transmission is slow --

too slow for more sophisticated services, such as browsing graphics-intensive Web pages. The wireless industry has done a terrible job of educating consumers on an ongoing basis about how to effectively use wireless devices and how to make the best use of the many existing services. These problems notwithstanding, there is great value in wireless data today and there can be even greater value in the future. Some of the enhancements, such as location technology, require a significant amount of time and money to implement. But many valuable services either exist now or can be implemented relatively easily. Wireless data can make a difference in helping people in these difficult times.
articles

DSL Versus Cable.(high-speed internet access technologies)(Brief Article) Author/s: Reid Goldsborough Issue: Nov-Dec, 1999 What's the latest in high-speed Internet access? The Gold Rush of 1999 has begun. Unlike the California Gold Rush of a century and a half ago, this one is for the rich surfing experience made possible by high-speed modems. It's also a race for the wallets and pocketbooks of consumers--both individuals and businesses--who have been complaining about the World Wide Wait and are willing to put their money where their mouths are. High-speed, or broadband, Internet service costs a premium over the $15 to $20 per month that conventional service typically costs. But there's good news here. With the increasing availability of digital subscriber line (DSL) Internet connections from telecommunications companies, cable modem companies now have real competition, which should put pressure on both industries to keep prices low. Each industry has a poor reputation regarding pricing. Cable companies, without meaningful competition, have routinely jacked prices up for cable TV services well beyond the rate of inflation. And phone companies could already have owned the broadband market had they priced earlier ISDN services affordably and not been afraid of cannibalizing their lucrative T1 and similar business-class services. The reluctance to forgo fat profit margins to grow its customer base was ultimately what did in CompuServe, once the leading online service and now just a faltering bit player owned by America Online. This may eventually do in some of the old-guard telecom giants as well. Already the Baby Bells are facing stiff competition from small and nimble newcomers offering broadband Internet services. Wired Business, at http://www.wired.business.com, is one such company. Headquartered in Philadelphia, it specializes in providing DSL Internet services to small-and mediumsize businesses in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other major cities throughout the country. The company offers business-quality DSL connections ranging from 144 kilobits per second to 1.5 megabits per second, roughly three to 35 times faster than conventional

modems. Prices for connecting a network of up to 30 computers typically range from $140 to $450 per month. The above prices are for symmetrical DSL, or SDSL, which unlike asymmetrical DSL, or ASDL, offers the same upstream as downstream speed and is therefore more appropriate for Web hosting, videoconferencing, online backups, and sending large files in general. The company also offers ADSL to residences starting at $60 per month. Wired Business is just one of numerous smaller companies now offering DSL services. You can find out about others at the Web sites of DSL wholesalers Covad, at http://www.covad.com, and NorthPoint, at http://www.northpointcom.Com. The regional Bell operating companies aren't standing still, of course. SBC Communications, the parent of Pacific Bell, Southwestern Bell, Nevada Bell, and SNET, has announced ambitious plans to make DSL services more widely available throughout its service area.. Cable downstream speeds typically range from 300 kilobits per second all the way up to 3 megabits per second, though upstream speeds are sometimes limited to 128 kilobits per second. Cable modem users share bandwidth with other users in their neighborhood, which doesn't present significant security risks for home users but can be a reason for businesses to opt for DSL. Though chances are greater than ever that you'll be able to get high-speed Internet service if you want it, availability is still the thorn in the side of the broadband industry. Many providers offer forms at their Web sites that you can fill out, with your address or phone number, which will then indicate whether service is available at your location. Who will win the broadband battle? Though both are growing quickly, cable has a twoyear head start over DSL, and most analysts feel that cable will remain the more popular choice. Are cable modems safe?(Internet/Web/Online Service Information) Despite being around for several years, security is still a top issue for cable modem technology Cable modems have been around for several years, so you'd think most of the security issues surrounding them would have been worked out by now. Unfortunately, that may not be the case. Direct cable connections to the Internet that are always "on" remain significantly less secure than dial-up access. Mike Paxton, an analyst with San Jose, Calif.-based Cahners Instat Group, explains: "Security is a problem for cable modem users because users share bandwidth on a single cable. (And) since your cable modem is always attached to the network -- it's always on -- that permits problems that other modems don't." When hooked up to the Internet using a cable modem, a computer is accessible anytime it's turned on. If left running over night, it's accessible. If simply running a word processor, the computer is still accessible through the network. Thus, there's a much larger window of opportunity for anyone who wants to try and gain inappropriate access to the PC an its information.

But that's not the only factor related to cable modems that Paxton sees as worrisome. "The second major problem is the type of connection that's used by cable connections or any other type of high-speed connection, and that's based on the IP addresses themselves," he says. "For dial-up users, that IP address constantly changes every time you log on to the Internet. But with a cable modem or even with a DSL modem, that IP address never changes, so that's like a fixed target if you had a hacker who wanted to get into your system. And right now, there are no firewalls available if you have a cable modem to protect you from someone who wants to do some hacking." Supposing someone did manage to hack their way into a system, what are some of the possible ramifications? Paxton says it would be quite easy for a hacker to look at anything on the hard drive and delete or edit files at will. Whether the victim is a home user or small business, their PC may hold files including such things as income tax information, sensitive business data, or any number of other types of information that one wouldn't want a stranger monkeying with. Not everyone agrees with Paxton about the risks, though. Mike Schwartz is senior vice-president of communications with CableLabs, a research and development consortium for cable system operators in North and South America. His position, and that of the consortium, is that there are no security risks associated with the use of cable modems. "None as far as we see, unless you, as the user, leave on your windows file share." Windows file share, which is designed to allow document sharing over networks, can be a dangerous element of the operating system if it's left on when you use a cable modem. Essentially, it allows anyone else on the same cable connection (that is, the neighbors) to see a computer (and its hard drive, and all its documents) in their "network neighborhood." Continued from page 1 Schwartz emphasizes that this is the primary concern for the user. "We've gone through a lot of effort to be as secure as any other network," he says, "However, you still, as a user, need to be mindful of making sure that file share is not on. It's akin to leaving your front door open when you're not home." But even if that obvious hole has been taken care of, there are still ways for intruders to gain access to a PC, and the cable connection makes it an obvious target. What to do? Paxton has a few suggestions. "In the past month or so, there have been some products coming onto the market -customer software firewalls more or less -- that allow you to further protect your computer from outside intrusion." he says. "Probably the best thing to do is install a password on your PC -- password-protect your sensitive files." But consumers should not have to shoulder this headache, laments Paxton. He says cable providers should do more to protect their customers. "They could be offering a proprietary software firewall or allowing somehow for the IP address to shift. We'll see those things in the next 12 months," he says.
advantages of cable

Wireless cable pins hopes on Internet; struggling industry looks to high-speed Web access to revitalize it.(Cable '98) Author/s: Bob Diddlebock Issue: May 4, 1998 Struggling industry looks to high-speed Web access to revitalize it The U.S. wireless cable industry today is a wounded soldier who stands a better chance of bleeding to death on the battlefield than being choppered out to safety. For the most part, the debt-choked, underfunded business--whose subscribership has stalled at the 1 million mark for the past few years--desperately needs money to finance day-to-day operations, pay debt and bankroll short- and long-term growth. To be sure, delays in rolling out digital services, loss of Wall Street's faith, failed mergers with major telcos, management missteps and the emergence/resurgence of savvy competitors have pushed wireless cable into a tight comer. As one analyst dryly says, "This industry is really in trouble." Not so fast, reply wireless cable optimists, who say they're ready to play an ace in the hole: highspeed Internet access, which they claim will be a major money-maker that will transform their struggling industry into a pivotal new-media player. As cause for hope those optimists also point to digital video, creative marketing alliances with folks like DirecTV and Americans' taste for multichannel TV service that sells for an average $23.82 a month. Indeed, some argue that if the industry can find some dough--about $1.6 billion will be needed to fund capital expenditure efforts through 2001, according to a Paul Kagan Associates Inc. estimate--wireless cable could double its U.S. subscriber count in the next four years, as well as serve some 30,000 high-speed-data customers. "I feel that there's a niche for wireless cable," says John Mansell, a senior Kagan analyst. "They had a decent business plan before the telcos came in [and looked into investing in the industry a few years ago], but you need capital, and you need to control churn." To be sure, there are a few wireless cable success stories. Well-heeled BellSouth, which also holds licenses in Miami; Atlanta; Louisville, Ky., and Jacksonville and Orlando, Fla., has rolled out digital video to 33,500 customers in New Orleans. Pacific Bell Video Services has done the same in 56,000 Los Angeles-area homes. Some small, well-managed companies--such as 72,000-subscriber Wireless Broadcasting Systems of America LLC, run by several former Daniels & Associates cable system executives--make good money. And creative alliances cut with DirecTV by Wireless One in Jackson, Miss., Heartland Wireless Communications Inc. and others are giving the industry access to the fast-growing multiple-dwelling unit market. Still, as DBS approaches 7 million subscribers and cable 70 million. It can't instill confidence in Wall Streeters, bondholders, employees or subscribers when a broker says that the entire [wireless cable] business is for sale or when the industry's trade association says that the business is "reinventing" itself. Today, it's hard to believe that wireless cable's future once looked quite sunny. The industry was founded in the 1970s by a scrappy band of entrepreneurs who developed a

simple, economical way to deliver TV service to Clovis, N.M.; Bude, Miss.; La Junta, Colo.; Sikestown, Mo., and a lot of other out-of-the-way burgs. The thinking: find a market with a significant number of uncabled homes; erect a tower that can beam creamof-the-Nielsens programming; charge a reasonable monthly tariff of $20 or so, and grow the business at a slow, steady pace. Continued from page 1 Who, so the thinking went, couldn't make hay, given the cable industry's reputation for price-gouging and delivering lousy customer service, as well as the inability of on-thehorizon DBS to deliver local broadcast signals? Nonetheless, wireless cable was able, as one observer puts it, "to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory." First, the industry's high rollers ran up hundreds of millions of dollars in high-yield bond debt during the go-go 1980s to flash-fund analog buildouts before establishing whether there was, indeed, widespread demand for their service. Instead of home-growing their own customers, greedy operators bought subscribers through ill-advised acquisitions. Poor credit risks and deadbeats dumped by local cable operators contributed to high wireless cable churn rates. Then, as the digital era dawned, wireless cable operators made lots of promises to investors and subscribers about all of the wonderful programming they could expect. Too bad that vendors couldn't deliver the hardware on time. Add a few more elements--fraudulent telemarketing schemes, lax customer service, DBS's arrival, the cable industry's push to polish its tarnished image, spectrum-hoarding greenmailers who suckered free-spending operators, program-access problems, you name it--and the situation took an ugly turn in the mid-1990s. The upshot: Kagan says that the wireless cable industry, which is expected to generate some $440 million in video-driven revenue this year, won't be cash flow-positive for at least another two years. Wall Street has turned off its money faucets. Major telcos like Bell Atlantic, Nynex and US West have killed plans to buy into larger wireless cable players, such as CS Wireless Systems Inc., CAI Wireless Systems Inc. and American Telecasting Inc. Most recently, Moody's Investors Service downgraded the credit ratings of ATI, CAI Wireless, CS Wireless, Wireless One Inc., Heartland Wireless and People's Choice TV, which also has been delisted by Nasdaq. What's more, Heartland announced that it wouldn't make a $7.5 million interest payment April 15 on its $115 million of 13% senior unsecured notes due in 2003. If that's not enough bad news, more than a few operators have discovered that upgrading to digital in response to moves by cable and DBS will cost them a fortune at a time when money has grown scarce. Says an analyst who requested anonymity: "The [wireless cable] industry clearly has its problems because it has too much debt. It needs to find a model that works. Maybe that means Internet service or a deal with a satellite service. But, again, they have to keep an

eye on the bondholders. ... Some of these companies are heading for reorganization." Indeed, companies that issued stock in the mid-1990s at $5 to $15 a share are now trading at under $1. That's where Internet access--which, according to your source, is either the thinnest of threads on which to hang the future of a shaky business or a potential goldmine--comes into play. Continued from page 2 The supposed advantages of wireless cable's Internet access with a telco-return component include: * Easy entry into the fast-growing small- and midsize business and telecommuter markets * Monthly pricing that starts as low as $199 a month versus the telcos' $600 and up for T1, ISDN or ADSL service * Service that requires only one channel--crucial in a typical 33-channel system--an antenna and a down-converter. "The modem business takes less spectrum than video," says Dean Ericson, a principal with Media Management Services Inc., a Denver-based telecommunications consulting firm. "It doesn't cost all that much to hook up a [data] headend. The network-design elements can let you deliver very high speeds throughout the marketplace. And business customers are different than residential customers. You can sell them equipment, as well as monthly service, at a fair price versus ADSL, T1 and whatever else the telcos can offer." The wireless cable industry also is banking on the FCC to rule in the next few months on whether operators will be able to deliver two-way service over their spectrum. That, in turn, could open up the Internet-based telephony business. "Wireless cable offers a tremendous platform for video, voice and data, and a favorable FCC ruling [on two-way services] could open up tremendous opportunity," says Bob Rini, a partner in the Washington communications law firm of Rini, Coran & Lancellotta. "The future's quite bright in that regard, because those operators have beachfront [spectrum] property." Kagan predicts that by 2008 the wireless cable industry could generate some $3.5 billion in annual high speed-data revenue, most of it from businesses. But how close the industry will comess to hitting that target is anyone's guess. The cable industry, for example. hasn't yet made a dime on Internet access: The MSO-backed @Home venture, which counts only 90,000 U.S. subscribers, posted a latest-quarter loss of $95 million. Other questions facing wireless cable on the data-access front: Can it find the money to develop the business sooner rather than later? Can it strongly market new offerings against such competitors as Loral Space, @Home, DirecTV, Primestar Partners and EchoStar? Can it cut the customer-service mustard with a still-finicky technology? Among the companies that already have launched service: ATI with WantWeb in Denver, Colorado Springs, Portland, Ore., and Seattle (it uses Hybrid Networks Inc. modems to deliver 750 kilobits-per-second downstream capability); People's Choice TV with SpeedChoice in Detroit and Phoenix, and Wireless One in Jackson, Miss., with its WarpOne service.

"This [high-speed access] is not trivial stuff," says Carl Ledbetter, the president of Hybrid Networks Inc. "These things are hard to work out, but there is all kinds of evidence that this is coming to the fore; 1999 could be a big, blowout year for wireless cable." Continued from page 3 But as one wireless video pioneer who's no longer in the business sarcastically says of the data-access play: "We didn't figure out the pay-TV business--so now, let's do something else." That again begs the question: Could wireless cable become the Betamax business of the 1990s--gone and quickly forgotten--or miraculously summon the wherewithal to transform itself into a useful new-media niche service? The FCC's recent LMDS spectrum auctions in the 27.5-31.3 ghz band, which can be used flexibly for telephony, video and data access didn't draw much of a crowd. The only successful wireless cable bidder was People's Choice TV, which won a block of spectrum for Phoenix. If, indeed, some of People's Choice's brethren tank, they may end up in the hands of bankruptcy-court buyers, according to analysts. These buyers, most likely, would be some of the more conservatively run, well-established wireless cable players such as Wireless Broadcasting Systems. Other prospects: Forward-thinking small and midsize telcos could use the in-hock spectrum to deploy two-way Internet access; deliver Internet-based telephony down the road, and build corporate and municipal intranet systems. As one analyst says, "I find it impossible to believe that no one would want that [200 mhz] spectrum." But making it pay off in a big way may continue to be another story for quite some time. Wireless Internet -- No Threat to Cable. Author/s: Marc Liggio Issue: Oct 26, 1998 Marc Liggio is a senior analyst with Allied Business Intelligence Inc. in Oyster Bay, NY High-speed wireless Internet access is no threat to the cable industry, at least today (This discussion does not refer to low-speed pager access, which provides news on the move and little more.) Although there has been much talk and some limited implementation of wireless Internet services, there has been a tendency toward hype over anything wireless. Cellular and PCS (personal-communications services) have made wireline services seem old-fashioned. However, wireless is not the ultimate answer for every application or for every environment. High-speed wireless Internet has few advantages over wireline service and, from a service provider standpoint, it has a number of disadvantages. CAPITAL ISSUES Cable-modem and ADSL (asymmetrical digital subscriber line) services have a major advantage in that established corporations back both with adequate cash flows for investing in new business segments.

Eventually, of course, they expect data services to generate revenue, but for now, they are able to invest the necessary money for the two technologies to get on their feet. Wireless Internet operations do not have the advantage of a long gestation period, during which they will be sustained by a parent company's cash flow Most MMDS (multichannel multipoint distribution service) companies, for example, do not have particularly good cash flows. Some LMDS (local multipoint distribution service) backers do have substantial cash flows, but in the recent Federal Communications Commission auction of LMDS licenses, most companies placed a very low value on the right to offer the service, suggesting that few expect it to be the "killer app" for broadband access. INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES In all Internet infrastructure layouts, the appropriate switches and routers must be installed. Both cable-modem and ADSL services are operated over plant owned by the cable operator or telco, while wireless Internet operates over the airwaves, where it has the advantage of being designed for broadband service from the start. Both cable operators and telcos built their systems without the expectation of offering twoway, broadband services, so their plants must be upgraded. Wireless Internet does not have this problem. But the wireless Internet advantage is not as great as it might initially seem. First. bandwidth must be purchased from the FCC or leased from another service provider. And if a potential wireless Internet provider appropriates spectrum already used by the company for other services, then the company loses the benefit of such revenues in starting up its wireless Internet business. Second, cable companies are well on their way toward upgrading their networks, and telcos have designed broadband models to compensate for many of the problems in their plants. Thus, wireless Internet companies will not get head starts in most major markets. In fact, in many markets, cable-modem service and ADSL will be established before wireless Internet access is implemented.Continued from page 1 Many users with the greatest need for high-speed-data service will already be subscribers to cable or ADSL. MARKETING ISSUES Both cable operators and telcos can include advertising for new services with the invoices that they send to existing subscribers. Even when no bill is included, customers will generally open up such mailings. However, mailings from wireless Internet providers bear unfamiliar names, and they could be left unopened. While all Internet-service providers may send out the same number of mailings, cable operators and telcos have higher numbers of people actually looking at the various enclosures. Cable operators and telcos have a much greater ability to generate hype, because their parent companies are generally large and well-known.

This is what has happened with cable modems and, more recently with ADSL modems. Numerous articles in the popular press have appeared about the services that cable modems and ADSL can provide. Wireless Internet is sometimes mentioned in these articles, but it is rarely featured by itself Even when the parent company is not large - say a small cable company or a CLEC (competitive local-exchange carrier) companies offering these services benefit from press generated by their larger brethren. The words "cable modem" and "ADSL" have almost become brand names. When the cable operator markets its cable modem, potential customers have a good idea what it is, how it works and what it can do for them. SUBSCRIBER COSTS On a per-subscriber cost basis, there is little difference among the various technologies, but the wireless Internet carrier must place more of the initial cost burden on the subscriber. Much of the initial cost to the cable company - and, to a lesser extent, the telco - is attributed to upgrading the plant. This must be done - especially in the case of cable companies - before the service can be offered. The telco can, in many cases, upgrade on a line-by-line basis, as in the case of adding repeaters to T-1 lines. But a major upgrade requires tasks such as extending fiber, which must be done on a neighborhood-by neighborhood basis, as is the case with cable. With the wireless Internet company much of the initial cost is in customer-premises equipment. Currently for true twoway wireless Internet service, CPE is more expensive because of the need for a transceiver, as well as a modem. In some cases, an external antenna is required. Where the upstream path is over an ordinary phone line, service costs are comparable to cable-modem service, and the CPE costs are less. Pricing starts at $50 per month for service, plus $100 to $200 for equipment. Where the wireless connection is two-way monthly service for a single user runs in the $70 to $100 range, plus $400 to $800 in CPE costs and $150 for installation. Cable companies and telcos, with their much better cash flows, can afford to purchase the equipment themselves and lease it, as cable companies do with set-top boxes. Some sell equipment to subscribers at subsidized prices. Continued from page 2 Telcos and cable companies are in much better positions to recover costs over time. Even at unsubsidized prices, the CPE for cable or ADSL does not exceed $400. The big advantage for wireless Internet comes in the multiuser (business) market. Wireless Internet companies can service a number of users at a relatively low cost. CPE costs can be allocated over a larger number of users. For 10 users, the monthly fee starts at around $300, with the CPE cost starting at around $600. In contrast, cable modems do not allow multiple users because of shared bandwidth. THE CURRENT MARKETPLACE

For individual usage, cablemodem service has a head start in many parts of the country Soon, ADSL will be a major competitor. Wireless Internet access exists in some markets, although in many cases, the companies involved lack the funding for extensive marketing. In general, cable-modem service has the biggest head start, followed by ADSL. Wireless Internet access will be a competitor in many places, but it is not likely to be No. 1. Make no mistake, there is a place for wireless Internet access. That place will likely be in supplying high-speed Internet connections to small or midsized businesses. For them, initial equipment costs are not high when compared with other multiuser options. Cable companies should not be worried about wireless Internet or ADSL service providers stealing subscribers: They should be concerned about these competitors getting to market before them, and they should concentrate on rolling out services as quickly and as aggressively as possible. Remember, all things being equal - price, service and bandwidth - customers do not care which access method they use. They are only interested in having the Internet delivered to their screens at a particular speed. All things being equal, cable modems, ADSL and wireless Internet have the same chance of being chosen by new entries to cyberspace. But existing customers for non-Internet services will tend to stay with their current service provider - again, all things being equal. The main questions are: How long will it take before all things are equal, and where will cable be when they are? COPYRIGHT 1998 Cahners Publishing Company COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group

[Comp-list] Pakistan joins world through wireless Internet
Pakistan joins world through wireless Internet Business Recorder, Mehmud Ahmed, 9/8/2002 ISLAMABAD (August 09 2002): By a simple click with his mouse here on Thursday evening, the Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Ata-ur-Rahman pushed Pakistan into what he described as "elite group of

nations enjoying the broadband wireless Internet technology". He said the facility had been commissioned in four cities but will shortly be expanded to other habitats and will provide the fastest internet connectivity solution available in the world. According to him its was faster than xDsl, ADL, DSL, satellite and cable modem service speed and depending on the package one picked up, this solution could range anywhere from 64k to 100 mbps. The minister said the facility was low cost with manifold benefits but the tariff released by the sponsors listed forbidding fees for individual consumers. The Paknet.com, an ISP-subsidiary of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) officials said they had numerous packages but to begin with they were offering Elegance 64 and 128 with connectivity at 64k and 128k. It will cost Rs 45,000 and Rs 65,000 per month with unlimited access. The other packages are designed to provide 256 and 512 kilobytes and one and

two megabytes connectivity with Rs 90,000 and Rs 150,000. Then there are four classic packages that are time based and six supreme packages based on volume. In addition there are Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000 security deposit for speeds up to 128 kilobytes and 256 kilobytes and Rs 30,000 for installation of the antennae and the access points. Simultaneously the facility was switched on for use at the Islamabad International Airport where Dr Ata-ur-Rahman said laptop owners could use it by renting out a high-speed modem at nominal rent for temporary use. Outlining the utility of the new solution, Dr Ataur-Rahman said it could be used by university students to access information libraries, class rooms and dormitories while the tele-medics could open medical records and high definition images from any point in the hospital. Building to building wireless connections integrated entire medical complexes for information sharing, including real-time image exchange for immediate consultations in

remote areas. Introducing the new service, the Chief Executive Officer of the Paknet.com, Mueen Sadiq Malik said the facility will benefit travelling professionals, home and small office users and media companies. He said that it will allow private and public utilities to connect and monitor remote locations cost-effectively and the internet service providers to bridge from their points of presence to their customers without having to lease or build a wired infrastructure. It will also reduce service costs associated with wires and will also facilitate bulk data transfer for researchers and medical transcriptors. The joint venture partners of the Paknet.com in the "Paknet-Freedom" project, the way the broadband wireless solution is called here is an American Company, the Proxim Corporation. Its CEO for Pakistan, Shaukat Ahmed Reshi said the Paknet. Freedom represented gradual evolution of Pakistan from a country that was catching up in technology race to the one that "is right

there on the front line". He said that wireless networking was redefining the entire concept of information and even the Internet itself. According to Reshi, the greatest strength of the WiFi, as the wireless networking was popularly known abroad, was based on Ethernet. It could be instantly deployed, had an outstanding return on investment and offered the highest levels of scalability and security. It was thus purest form of "anywhere, anytime access" and so the next generation Internet. He later presented shields to Dr Rahman and Mueen Malik to commemorate the launching of the new mode in cyber technology.

[Comp-list] Minister to launch PTCL's wireless Internet service today
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Minister to launch PTCL's wireless Internet service today Business Recorder Report, 8/8/2002

ISLAMABAD (August 08 2002): A new concept in the use of Internet through a broad band wireless connection is to be launched here on Thursday evening for the 'Paknet.com', an Internet service provider of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited. This will be the first step in the new phase of Internet usage that will break through cable encumbrances in premises and provide high-speed broadband service. The new system, though expensive to install in the beginning, will be a boon to the laptop or notebook (computer) users wanting to be on the move in a warehouse or large office spaces. To start with, the facility will be available in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and will be extended to other places shortly afterwards. The introduction ceremony, being planned by 'Paknet.com', will be presided over by Dr Ata-ur-Rahman, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, at Hotel Marriott here and will be attended by Shaukat Ahmed Reshi, Chief Executive. Officer of Sarcorp, which represents Proxim Corporation of the US, joint venture partner of the 'Paknet.com' in this project. The officials of the only public sector ISP--Paknet.com--said that the system would provide a high-speed service up to 10 megabites with the basic system covering 15 km. The higher speed system can extend the coverage range up to 40 km, ISP's Manager Marketing Dr Kamil Muzaffar Tarar said.

He said the new service has been successfully integrated with the existing Paknet facility in the country. Simultaneously with the new network launching in the city, the first public facility under it will be made available to public at the Islamabad International Airport. The outside dish antennae will have access plugs in the arrival and departure lounges as well as the reception area. The users will have to acquire a wireless modem from the Paknet Customer Services at the Airport to get connected with the Internet without a telephone line. The facility has been appropriately named as 'Paknet Freedom'. The new service was commissioned a week ago, but its official launch will be held on Thursday evening offering it for subscription to individual and corporate users.

value added feature of pol
WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) Faster than many would have imagined, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) services are springing up, driven by the ubiquity of digital cell phones and the growing popularity of the Internet. Wireless Web is one of the fastest growing and most powerful technologies today bringing a new revolution in the communication world. Using a wireless device (mobile phones, handheld computers, etc.) users can easily interact with information from almost anywhere. From simple look-ups of information to e-commerce and complex entry of new data, such wireless web access increases productivity at work and enhances lifestyle at play. Pakistan Online provides customized m-commerce solutions for its clients. We specialize in the creation of dynamic, functional, database-driven Websites that can span the range between the wired Internet and the wireless web. Pakistan Online is specialized in: Wireless Access to Internet Content Takes your Website closer to your users by providing interactive access to the information they need at that moment.

Wireless Access to Corporate Intranet Content Equips your mobile employees with critical data for their field sales, field service and distribution. Wireless Access to Personal Information: Wireless device users can access their electronic mail, calendars, and ‘to do’ lists.

Digital Subscriber Line Technology
INTRODUCTION

Digital subscriber line (DSL) is one of several access methods competing to bring broadband connectivity to the small office /home office (SOHO) market. As demand for access to the Internet soars, demand for faster access has also increased. Today, the typical SOHO user reaches the Internet via a dial-up analog modem with a maximum access speed of 56 kilobits per second (kbps). DSL, on the other hand, promises connection speeds up to 100 times faster by using a digital modem (or splitter) instead of an analog modem.
HOW DOES DSL WORK?

DSL travels over the twisted-pair copper telephone lines that already link the public switched network (PSN) central office (CO) and the SOHO premises. It works by exploiting unused bandwidth in these copper wires. Voice traffic over copper uses only the lower end of the wire’s frequency range (300 Hertz [Hz] to 3.4 kilohertz [kHz]). DSL takes advantage of the fact that copper telephone lines can carry broadband signals at a much higher frequency (between 5 kHz and 1.4 megahertz [MHz]). However, the distance that DSL can travel over copper wiresis limited to 18,000 feet from a CO. Although the DSL distribution path subsists in existing twisted pair copper, DSL does require the addition of new equipment at the CO and the SOHO premises. Like the analog solution, DSL requires modems at the SOHO. At the CO, DSL access multiplexers (DSLAM) are the key pieces of equipment for providing DSL service to multiple users. (In the near future, DSLAMs will provide not only DSL service, but also “edge” ser-vices and management controls to Internet service providers [ISP] and their customers.) The modem and the DSLAM split the voice and data signals using frequency division multiplexing. Because voice and data are transmitted over different frequency ranges, DSL can operate independently of voice ser-vices. If the DSL modem or the DSLAM fail, voice services should remain unaffected. As shown in Figure 1, DSL allows data traffic to completely bypass the CO switch. Once data signals have been separated from

voice signals, voice calls can be carried over the circuit-switched PSN, and data traffic can be

aggregated with other incoming data traffic to be routed to the Internet. XDSL Many companies are developing alternative “flavors” of DSL, known collectively asxDSL. xDSL types include asymmetric DSL (ADSL), rate adaptive DSL (RADSL), and symmetric DSL (SDSL). ADSL is by far the most common version of DSL and is perhaps the simplest and least expensive way to provide DSL to the end user. “Asymmetric“ refers to the asymmet-ric rates for upstream (SOHO to CO) and downstream (CO to SOHO) data. ADSL takes advantage of the fact that most cus-tomers receive more data (Web pages, graphics, e-mail attachments) than they send; therefore, it is much cheaper and easier to push data downstream to the customer than it is for the data to be sent upstream from the customer. Upstream rates for ADSL tend to peak at around 128 kbps, whereas downstream rates can reach as high as 6 megabits per second (Mbps), or roughly 100 times faster than a typical download using an analog modem.
COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES

Broadband access for the SOHO market is not restricted to telephony access. DSL is only one choice among many for providing broadband data access. Other competing technologies include cable modems and wireless broadband.
CABLE BROADBAND

Broadband access via cable television wiring, commonly known as cable modem service, is a nearly direct competitor to DSL. Cable service providers are pursuing the same SOHO market as DSL, but with two notable differences. First, cable has not traditionally been installed in office buildings, therefore limiting its use for business. Second, unlike DSL, cable signals do not dissipate over distances; therefore, theoretically, anyone with cable TV could purchase cable modem service if his or her cable company offers the service.
HOW DO CABLE MODEMS WORK?

Cable modem service provides bidirectional Internet access via asymmetric cable modems and cable coaxial wires. Previously, first-generation cable modem service required the use of a telephone line for the up-stream data connection. However, today’s cable modem services use cable coaxial wires to carry data downstream and up-stream. Broadband access speeds can reach up to 3 Mbps upstream and 2.5 Mbps downstream. Like DSL, cable modem service uses a combination of existing wiring and new equipment. Downstream data is modulated and sent via a 6-MHz-wide television channel, in the frequency range from 50 MHz to 750 MHz. Theoretically, this will allow for a downstream speed of 27 Mbps. However, because most computers are incapable of connecting at this speed, most service providers will limit downstream data rates to 1 to 3 Mbps. Upstream data is transmitted in the range of 5 to 42 MHz, with data rates as high as 10 Mbps. However, because most users do not require access at this high rate, most cable modems are manufactured to provide service at 0.5 to 2.5 Mbps. Like DSL, cable modem service requires in-vestment in new equipment. At the SOHO premises, a cable modem is required, which is typically leased from the service provider. At the cable plant, the service provider must install a cable modem termination system (CMTS). The CMTS is the key hardware for connecting the cable TV network to the Internet or other data networks.
WIRELESS BROADBAND

technologies include cable modems and wireless broadband.
CABLE BROADBAND

Broadband access via cable television wiring, commonly known as cable modem service, is a nearly direct competitor to DSL. Cable service providers are pursuing the same SOHO market as DSL, but with two notable differences. First, cable has not traditionally been installed in office buildings, therefore limiting its use for business. Second, unlike DSL, cable signals do not dissipate over distances; therefore, theoretically, anyone with cable TV could purchase cable modem service if his or her cable company offers the service.
HOW DO CABLE MODEMS WORK?

Cable modem service provides bidirectional Internet access via asymmetric cable modems and cable coaxial wires. Previously, first generation cable modem service required the use of a telephone line for the up-stream data connection. However, today’s cable modem services use cable coaxial wires to carry data downstream and up-stream. Broadband access speeds can reach up to 3 Mbps upstream and 2.5 Mbps downstream. Like DSL, cable modem service uses a combination of existing wiring and new equipment. Downstream data is modulated and Figure 2. Potential Broadband Applications
ADVANTAGES

? High bandwidth service ? Low cost for medium number of users ? Voice, data, and video support ? An “always on” service DISADVANTAGES ? Not ubiquitous ? Expensive for small number of users ? Sometimes difficult to install ? Not portable ? Security issues

censed spectrum also exists in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands. The wireless broadband technology uses fixed wireless antennas that are highly direc-tional and bolted to rooftops. These anten-nas possess large data capacities and do not support roaming. The narrowband antennas do not use satellites. To deliver wireless broadband Internet, a combination of tech-nology platforms is used, from fixed wire-less for the first mile connection to fiber rings that connect hub site buildings, to long-haul fiber that connects cities. Wireless broadband connections and other fixed-wireless connections deliver data rates from T1 to 155 Mbps. These wireless connections serve the same function as a wireline, inter-connecting private networks, bypassing a lo-cal exchange carrier, or connecting to the Internet.
HOW DOES WIRELESS BROADBAND WORK?

When a user sends data, data packets stream to an antenna. The antenna then uses the spectrum to transmit the packets in a tight beam aimed at another antenna within LOS. This second antenna is co-located with a hub that receives transmissions (e.g., voice, video, and data) simultaneously from many customers, aggregates the transmissions, and pushes them out onto a backbone for network distribution. Data going from the backbone to the customer is received at the hub. The hub sorts the packets and distributes them as transmissions aimed at therooftop antennas on surrounding buildings. A combination of point-to-point and point-to- multipoint radios (or transceivers) carry the signals, but only if the service supports point-to-multipoint (most do not at this time).

Audio signals can be digitized and sent as data packets; therefore, industry hopes to combine data and voice communi-cations within a single transmission within this decade.
APPLICATIONS, ADVANTAGES, AND DISADVANTAGES

The “always on” nature of DSL and its high bandwidth capabilities make it a good candidate for several applications. From sup-port of a SOHO to advanced video telecom ferencing, Figure 2 highlights some of the many potential uses for DSL and other broadband applications. Although DSL and other broadband tech-nologies offer greater data access rates at a relatively low cost per user, drawbacks to broadband access also exist. Table 1 summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of broadband access. Table 2 compares various characteristics for competing broadband access technologies.
SECURITY

One selling point of broadband is that a con-nection always exists on the Internet. Continuous access eliminates the downtime as-sociated with dialing in via an analog modem. However, the convenience of a con-tinuous connection does not come without a price. Unfortunately, that price is a lack of security.Continuous connections make computers vulnerable to hackers and snoopers. For the typical analog modem-to-ISP connection, the ISP will assign a dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address at random with each new Inter-net session. However, because broadband connections are continuous, they tend to use static IP addressing. Static IP addressing makes it easier for hackers and snoopers to target and track an individual’s personal computer (PC). Cable modems have an additional vulner-ability. Using a cable modem is analogous to using a local area network, in which many users share common cabling. This means that “neighbors” who are using the same ca-ble modem networks theoretically can intercept data packets sent between the end user and the ISP.Several steps can be taken to address these security concerns. A good place to start is with the ISP. End users should ask their ISP if any security systems are currently in place to detect or prevent hackers and snoopers (e.g., dynamic IP addresses, protective soft-ware to encrypt data, or a firewall). If the ISP does not provide dynamic IP ad-dressing, the best protection is to disconnect the computer from the Internet when it is not in use. This can be accomplished either by disconnecting the cable or telephone line or by turning off the system. In addition, if the ISP does not provide encryption, a fire-wall, and anti hacking software, the end user can purchase these for self-installation.

Wireless Local Area Network.

Introduction Wireless LAN is a networking technology that allows the connection of computers without any wires and cables, mostly using radio and infrared frequency (RF) technology. It's called LAN because the range targets within an office, a building, a store, a small campus, or just a house. The description of a WLAN is a mobile data communication connectivity system installed and configured as an alternative in some cases for traditional LAN. The WLAN equipment is capable of receiving and sending data over an adequate range. Mobility The most important benefits of WLAN are flexibility, mobility and portability, Security The WLAN service cannot be perfectly secured, but the wireless industry has made significant investments to prevent intruders and hackers. The WLAN equipment can support session layer protocols that establish the connection between applications, enforces rules for carrying on the dialogue, and tries to re-establish the connection if a failure occurs.

Analysis Advantages
•The

WLAN Internet connectivity is great for any company whose site is not conducive to LAN wiring because of building or budget limitations, such as older buildings, leased space, or temporary sites. •While the initial investment required for WLAN hardware can be higher than the cost of traditional wired LAN hardware, overall installation expenses and life-cycle costs can be significantly lower. Long-term cost benefits are greatest in dynamic environments requiring frequent moves and changes. •The WLAN concept ensures the Internet customer, web-served mobile communication and field service productivity, the benefits of wireless communications sooner, and harddollar savings quicker than from any other commercial equipment available today. WLAN can provide network hardware for in-building and building-to-building data networks, as well as mobile communication equipment for information capture and display. •WLAN mobility, i.e., a student attending class on a campus accesses the Internet, accesses information, information exchanges, and learning.

•Senior executive officers, managers can present their briefings using WLAN without carrying the data files, charts, and any storage equipment. •Trade show and branch office workers minimize setup requirements with central database thereby increasing productivity. •Most WLAN equipment is plug-and-play. This will help to reduce the total cost to include vendor technical installation, equipment maintenance and to eliminate equipment redundancy in case of system crash. •WLAN technology allows the network to go where regular wire cannot go. •The WLAN was clearly better then wired in setup/teardown time and effort.

Disadvantages
•Due to the limited bandwidth, the WLAN technology cannot support Video Teleconference (VTC). However, experts believe that WLAN will support VTC within the next five years. •Due to the security reason, using the WLAN equipment as a contingency model is not recommended. •The WLAN operated within typical wired LAN parameters provides less downtime and an increased invisibility to the customer. •The WLAN technology also have obvious potentials in customer mobility and configuration changes significantly worse then wired in the risk of jamming, in the potential for interference, and in the detection of customer location. •The WLAN is not capable to download and upload large data files. •The WLAN is significantly worse then wired in the risk of jamming, potential for inference, and in the detection of RF signal. •Products from different WLAN manufacturers are often incompatible with each other. •Interference from friendly network will likely effect WLAN operation as the popularity of this industry increases. •The WLAN equipment is not capable of sending and receiving data successfully during field exercises in case of heavy fog or dust storm. •The WLAN equipment have difficulties at time in sending and receiving data when a flying object passes over a WLAN field exercise.

•If too many people or businesses in the same area have WLAN, then the band of air that they transmit signals on can become overloaded. Problems with signal interference are already happening and there are no doubts that the airwaves will become overloaded (Dunne,2001). •Most office environment and modern homes are constructed of materials that are relatively “translucent” to radio waves at 2.4 GHz so the range will not be greatly limited, however they do tend to present very reflective and refractive environments and the ultimate limitations will probably be caused by severe “multipath” problems. •The problem has been the lack of interoperability among WLAN products from different manufacturers. The classic Ethernet 802.11 standard was ignored in developing current WLAN products (Seymour 2000). •The WLAN weakness is susceptibility to many forms of external interface and the cost of transmitting stations. In addition, United States, international authorities and treaties strictly regulate most of the bands that can support high-speed communication. Use of these bands requires an expensive license (Burd, 1998). Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
A very high-speed connection using the same wires as a regular telephone line. Advantages of DSL: • • • • You can leave your Internet connection open and still use the phone line for voice calls. The speed is much higher than a regular modem (1.5 Mps vs. 56 kps) DSL doesn't necessarily require new wiring; it can use the phone line you already have. The company that offers DSL will usually provide the modem as part of the installation.

Disadvantages: • • • A DSL connection works better when you are closer to the provider's central office. The connection is faster for receiving data than it is for sending data over the Internet. The service is not available everywhere.

What is Paknet FREEDOM Wireless Internet ?
Paknet Freedom is the service which provides Broadband Internet on wireless to your office or residence. No phone lines or copper pair is required.

How fast is it ? Wireless Internet service is the fastest internet connectivity solution in the world. It is faster than xDSL, ADSL, DSL, Satellite and Cable Modem service speeds. Depending on the service package you get from Paknet, wireless Internet access can range anywhere from 64k to 100Mbps. Is this the same as what's called "Satellite" Internet ? No, it's better! Wireless Internet is bi-directional unlike Satellite Solutions where you can download via the dish antenna, but you are also connected by a phone line to the internet for your uploads. Our wireless solution eliminates the need for any dedicated phone lines, thereby reducing your costs, while providing data transfer rates faster than any other technology in the world. How does it work ? By installing optional Access Points in your building you can make your entire building wireless! If you install the Wireless PCI Card in your Desktop computers, you do not need any Ethernet wiring. Your desktop will be wirelessly connected to the internet at full Ethernet speeds. Similarly, if you install the wireless PCI card in your laptop you can connect to the internet wirelessly anywhere in your building! No need to find a phone line for your laptop or plug in an Ethernet cable. There are two ways in which wireless internet can be provided. a) A high capacity IP band radio system called "FREEDOM BRIDGES" connects Paknet's node to your office or residence. A distance of up to 15 km. is covered by the bridge. If you have a LAN in your office, the bridge connects directly to this LAN and all PCs connected to the LAN having instantaneous dedicated high speed internet connectivity ranging from 64k to 10Mbps. b) In case you do not have a LAN in your office and want individual PCs/Laptops to be provided with wireless internet device called "ACCESS POINT" is connected to the bridge in your premises. The PCs/Laptops provided in the PCI/PCI cards (wireless modems) wirelessly connected to the Access Points thus forming an indoor wireless LAN. How much does this service cost ?

Not only is Paknet FREEDOM the fastest broadband solution in Pakistan. it is the most economical. How quickly can you get me connected ? A Paknet FREEDOM wireless connection can typically be established within three days after order. Is this service affected by weather conditions? No. The Paknet wireless service is unaffected by rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog or atmospheric conditions of any kind, and all of the antenna options are rated for wind loads in excess of 100 mph. Will I have to learn anything new to use this system ? If you know how to use a web browser and e-mail software, you will not need to know anything else. You click on your browser icon, and you are online with NO delay and NO waiting EVER for a free line or a connection! What are the benefits of wireless internet over other highspeed technologies ? Paknet wireless service is always on; there's never a busy signal. Unlike DSL, the service speed does not diminish with distance from the network. The service does not crash due to problems with the copper lines on which DSL operates. Unlike ISDN and E1 connections, Paknet FREEDOM functions like a Private IP Connection between you (the enduser) and Paknet. Wireless Internet has the fastest growth rate in the world for broadband connectivity and is predicted to be the most widely adopted networking solution in the world. Major uses and highlights: • No telephone lines required, no disconnections and no busy tones. • 24/7 connectivity • Audio/Video conferencing • Video and Audio Streaming directly from the net

• Bulk data transfer for companies involved in Research, Medical, Transcription etc. • Multiplayer games, e.g., Quake, Red Alert, etc. • Secure connections available for Institutes and Universities Applications of Broadband Wireless Internet. Home and Small Office Users Wireless broadband networking allows consumers, many of whom now have two or more computers in their homes or offices, to share a single Internet connection, as well as printers and files, play networked games, compute in the garden, run a small business and eliminate the cost and mess of wires. Traveling Professionals and Branch Offices Wireless broadband networking allows extremely mobile professionals to easily transfer files before and after trips and allows employees from one branch of an office to quickly access the network at another office without the need for a wired workstation Internet Service Providers Wireless networks allow service providers to bridge from their points of presence to their customers without having to lease or build a wired infrastructure. Wireless technology also reduces the service costs associated with wires and allows providers to offer value-added services to their customers. Multinationals High-capacity fixed wireless networking has many applications for business today, including last mile access, storage area networks (SAN), security and surveillance, and simple overall reduction of operating expense. With Paknet's fixed wireless products, companies can eliminate monthly leased line fees forever, with payback in just a few months. These products also provide an ideal backup solution for the already-wired office, ensuring 99.999% reliable redundant connectivity even if outdoor construction or natural disasters cause a lapse in wired services.

Telemedicine Paknet Freedom allows Telemedicine users to access medical records and high-definition images as they move between patients. Buildingto-building wireless connections integrate entire medical complexes for information sharing, including real-time image exchange for immediate remote consultations. Schools and Universities Wireless Ethernet networking allows university students to access information as they move between classes, to the library , and even back to their dorm rooms. Paknet's products also enable high-speed connections across entire campuses eliminate the cost of leased lines, trenching to lay fiber, or wiring within school buildings. Government High-capacity wireless networking is increasingly used by all levels of government, from federal to local municipalities. Government needs to move vast quantities of data daily over its networks and a combination of fixed wireless and wireless local area networks (LANs) can help to significantly unclog networks, provide load balancing, and maintain redundant connectivity that is virtually disaster-proof. Utilities Paknet FREEDOM allows private and public utilities with the ability to connect and monitor remote locations cost-effectively. Rather than having to pay expensive fees for leased lines or having to trench for new fiber in areas where access is difficult, Paknet's outdoor fixed wireless products enable utilities to connect quickly with high speeds and 99.999% carrier-class reliability. Point-of-sale or point-of-service businesses High-capacity wireless networking enables companies to move information closer to their customers, which means that retail establishments, restaurants, airports and other service industries are able to serve customers anywhere in the establishment, not just at wired computer stations.

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