Tropos Networks and Syndeo have set up a massive metro-scale wi-fi network. The two companies are teaming up to provide high-bandwidth application access to education, business, residential, and municipality customers in areas traditionally neglected by wireline broadband providers.
"The first of many such rural deployments has already gone live. Using the outdoor-optimized Tropos 5110 Wi-Fi cells, Syndeo has unwired more than thirteen square miles of Lafayette, Louisiana. For lowest cost and easy access, the network is accessible via standard 802.11 client devices. In addition, a piece of customer premise equipment (CPE) extends the wireless signal to structures in more remote and less densely populated areas. With the successful deployment of the network, each subscriber now has access to true broadband connectivity (>1 Mbps)."
1. This all sounds fantastic, except for the price. I've seen these AP's for around $3,000. That seems too high for CPE applications. Am I just looking in the wrong place, did these people get a special deal, or what's the story?
(In other words, I don't know what these subscribers are paying, but I'm interested in the time-to-break-even on the equipment)
Posted at 5:28AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Hunter Cook