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Technology Stocks : LAST MILE TECHNOLOGIES - Let's Discuss Them Here -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: eik who wrote (10948)	4/14/2001 11:53:56 PM
From: Rob S.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

I can only find this one article reference right now: www1.telecomclick.com This is a bit old and there are two more articles that are more recent that mention directly that Worldcom will go with OFDMA systems. Hybrid networks will probably retain business in parts of the country they are currently being deployed and maybe some new cities where mega-cell systems can reach a large portion of the available market - namely relatively flat open spaces. However, OFDM technology is coming on very strong and is said to be testing out better than expected by both Sprint and Worldcom. VYYO thought that they had the business at WCOM locked up, they issued press releases to that effect and forecast expected sales in 2001 of $60 million. I posted on the Yahoo! board during the time of the recent telecomm trade show a few weeks ago that it was rumored by some of VYYO's competitors that they would not get the WCOM business. VYYO told me that they knew of no change of deployment plans at the time. A few days latter VYYO issued a warning, lowering estimates for this quarter down to $1 million and cutting 2001 down to $20 million. About that same time the new articles appeared that quoted WorldCom’s FWBB sales VP as saying that they are going to go with OFDMA technology because it would allow greater reach etc. and was proving out in field trials. I have tired to find out who is in the front running in the trials at Sprint and Worldcom but so far have no clear answers. I know that there are a number of vendors, including IoSpan, Beamreach, Wi-Lan and Raze Technologies that do not have their systems quite ready for field trials at this time. Most of these claim to field systems by the 4th quarter. I am not certain where Cisco is at in their OFDMA system development - if they have a complete consumer ready system and not just bits and pieces. Cisco may very well wait for the dust to clear from all of the new entrant and then swoop down and acquire one of the best ones. I know that NextNet has completed field trials back east an here in Washington State (Olympia). The Olympia trial included several types of buildings and was conducted during periods of heavy rain and some snowfall. The trial was said to have gone very well with reception within 3 miles of the micro-cell site. An example user site was within a stone and reinforced concrete library building which had limited numbers of windows. The NextNet system uses an integrated modem & antenna unit that the user installs. I think the time has nearly arrived for OFDM system to reshape the industry. Hybrid Networks has a fine mega cell system and I understand that they are working on a near line of sight capability. However, the system will still require an external antenna and typically requires at least one truck roll for professional installation. This should remain viable in certain geographic markets but I am not attracted to the company's future prospect at this time.