Download MetroFi Cupertino - Wireless Internet Institute

Digital Cities Convention
Cupertino Wireless Broadband
Project Lead:
Organization:
Country:
Chuck Haas/Rick Kitson Date: 9/10/05
MetroFi, Inc/Cupertino Presenter: Rick Kitson
USA
Email:
[email protected]
Web site: www.metrofi.com
www.cupertino.org
The Wireless Internet Institute
Background
• Cupertino, California is a city of just over 52,000 people,
covering approx. 11 square miles
– Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, about 20 minutes from downtown
San Jose
– One of the most diverse, progressive and technologically savvy populations
in Northern California
– Home to DeAnza college, with 26,000 students, and Apple Computer,
Hewlett-Packard, Portal, Symantec and many other high-tech firms.
– Has been progressive in addressing technology, including establishment of
the first Government Access television system in Silicon Valley, use of
CityNet for remote resident participation in city meetings, and
establishment of a Technology, Information, and Communications
Commission.
• MetroFi, Inc is a privately-held company that designs,
builds, and operates Wireless Broadband networks
– Initially approached the City of Cupertino in fall of 2003
– Full residential Wireless Broadband network built & operational in Spring
2005
The Wireless Internet Institute
Mission & Objectives
MetroFi’s Mission in Cupertino:
• To build community area networks
that deliver multi-megabit
consumer wireless Internet access.
Using enhanced technology based
on the popular Wi-Fi (802.11)
standard, MetroFi combines a new
level of affordability with the
convenience of portability to offer
highly competitive broadband
access services.
Cupertino’s Mission:
• To ensure affordable broadband
access is readily available to all
Cupertino residents.
•
Project Objectives:
– Design, deploy, and operate a
Broadband Wireless network
serving the residential community
of Cupertino
– Market & sell low-cost, high-speed
Internet access to consumers in an
“open access” model – allowing
consumers choice of service
providers
– Support additional value-added
services on the same network
platform – including potential
public hot zones and other
municipal uses
The Wireless Internet Institute
Possible Solutions
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Available alternatives:
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Who owns & operates the network?
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Public – city owns & operates
Private – independent company owns &
operates
Hybrid – possible combination of the above
Who markets & sells services, if used for
commercial Internet access?
Technology
•
Radio
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City-Owned
City-Operated
City-Owned
Privately Operated
Privately-Owned
City-Operated
Privately-Owned
Privately-Operated
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Commercial, privately-managed consumer
High-speed Internet service, sold direct (by
MetroFi), & through EarthLink (ISP)
–
Dual-radio, multi-channel network
(Skypilot streetlight-mounted radios)
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Simple-to-setup advanced wireless modem
(modem w/built-in authentication)
Single-radio, single-channel network
topology
Dual-radio, multi-channel topology
“Hotspot”-based system – requiring laptop
& logon with each session
Wireless modem – hides complexity from
users, simple experience
Applications
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Business Model: Privately owned &
operated, with Cupertino renting assets
User connectivity, logon, & security
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Business models
•
Chosen alternative
Consumer high-speed Internet access
Public-access hot zones
Public safety
General municipal use of wireless accounts
The Wireless Internet Institute
Business Model
• Privately owned & operated business model
– MetroFi designed, built, and operates the Cupertino wireless
broadband network
– MetroFi markets & sells open-access consumer Internet service
through various channels – including www.metrofi.com and ISP
EarthLink
– Cupertino receives revenue from MetroFi for “rent” of space on
Cupertino streetlight cross arms for outdoor radios
• Targeted users:
– Current – Residential High-Speed Internet access
– Future – public access hot zones, other municipal uses
• Technology & devices used
– Streetlight-mounted Skypilot poletop radios (802.11a & b/g)
– Dedicated wireless modems in each customer’s residence
The Wireless Internet Institute
Technology Schematic: MetroFi Network
The Wireless Internet Institute
Cupertino Wireless Broadband System Technology Building Blocks
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MetroFi
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Pole-mounted radios
RF planning
Network Management system
Trouble ticket & dispatch system
User authentication, authorization,
and accounting
Network & data security
Network architecture & design
Subscriber modem & logistics
Coverage & subscriber
prequalification
Billing system
Vendor evaluation & selection
Wired network interconnection
Internet connectivity & IP
management
Customer care system
Cupertino
– Streetlight poles
– Right-of-way
– Wireless master plan
The Wireless Internet Institute
Applications: User’s Perspective
• Current application – Residential High-Speed Internet
Affordable…
…and easy to
setup & use
The Wireless Internet Institute
Applications: User’s Perspective
• Future/Potential applications
Public Access Internet Zones
City employee data access in the field
The Wireless Internet Institute
Project Economics
• Cost structure – approx 7 square miles
MetroFi
- $250K to deploy ($20/house)
Cupertino
- none
• Investment Sources/ Funding Sources
– Cupertino deployment was funded by MetroFi in its entirety
• Revenue Source/ Return on Investment
MetroFi
Cupertino
- $12-19.95/mo per subscriber (retail)
- $12/mo per subscriber (from ISP)
- Cash flow positive now (4 months)
- Full network payback in ~36 months
- $3.6K/yr to City in pole rent
- $2,000/mo in savings today to
residents over DSL/Cable, growing
to $20K/mo in 2 years
The Wireless Internet Institute
Deployment
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Timeline: past, current & future
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Fall 2003 – MetroFi first approaches Cupertino
May 2004 – MetroFi/Cupertino operating agreement finalized
November 2004 – Radio deployment
Winter/Spring 2005 – Network benchmarking & testing
April 2005 – Production residential service launched
October 2005 – Hot Zones operational
Deployment specifics
– Over 100 SkyPilot radios in operation on streetlights in Cupertino
– Single primary connection to the Internet served out of a building in the center of the city
– Capacity to support 3,000 subscribers (hundreds live today)
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Sustainability and Scalability of the project
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Current network has 60Mbps of aggregate bandwidth available, easily doubled
Will easily support 15% household penetration
Provisioning of subscribers is fully automated, zero-touch, standards-based system
Up to 8 separate secure, private networks can be operated on the same infrastructure
Quality of service can support future applications such as Voice over IP and much higher
subscriber speeds
The Wireless Internet Institute
Impact Analysis
• Actual impact
– High-density Broadband Wireless network operating over 7 square
miles of Cupertino
– Implemented service is easy for residential users to setup & use
– Happy residential subscribers who have a choice
•
"MetroFi is an A+ company. From my initial inquiries to the installation their services have been
outstanding. Their service is significantly less money while offering superior speed and support. I have
recommended MetroFi to all my friends and associates." - H. Barnett
• Impact compared to original goals
– Cupertino
• Met goal of creating a viable, new broadband alternative for residents
– MetroFi
• Met economic goals – deployed network for $250K
• On track to meet 8-12% household penetration rate in 3 years
• In first 6 months, on track to meet 36-month full network payback
The Wireless Internet Institute
Lessons Learned & Next Steps
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Public-private partnering
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Open-access, multi-service platform
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Standards-based 802.11 technology was viewed as superior to proprietary alternatives
User experience & technology choice
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Overlapping/common objectives of serving residents & the community with affordable
broadband service led to success
Regardless of the business model, the service will be perceived as a partnership by the
community – therefore, taking a proactive and collaborative stance will be of mutual benefit
and improve the response of the community
Agreements between entities need to account for dynamic technology & business environments
– for example, how to address potential for insolvency?
The specific implementation & technology choices can dramatically affect the user experience
– need to make WiFi safe, secure, and easy to use for everyone, including desktop PC users and
residents with zero wireless experience
Economics matter
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The overall business case must support the application need – that is, the project must provide
payback on the investment to whoever provides the funding
The specific implementation & execution of the project will also greatly affect the economics
and the overall success
The Wireless Internet Institute