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

To: Rob S. who wrote (10980)	4/16/2001 10:34:15 PM
From: Rob S.	Respond to of 12823

Recent article: Fixed Wireless Is High Fashion From the April 11 edition of Wireless Data News Carriers, Customers Wooed By Cheap, Easy Technology By Marisa Torrieri Fixed wireless equipment providers seem to be using magical charms to seduce carriers. Broadband wireless technology is kicking digital subscriber line (DSL) butt, much to the dismay of competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs). And new investment is continuing to pour into fixed wireless players. For example, Iospan Wireless, a provider of non-line-of-sight technology for broadband wireless access, succeeded in raising $47 million in venture capital funding in January. But market success hasn't come without challenges. The last week in March proved the market isn't without its financial and competitive bumps in the road. Vendors in all parts of the fixed wireless food chain, such as Vyyo [VYYO], Nortel [NT], saw serious stock drops following earnings warnings. For example, Vyyo, a multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) equipment provider, saw its stock price sink to $2.375 per share March 26, the day it announced its first-quarter earnings would be less than $1 million, instead of the $7.9 million it had projected in January. Last July, Vyyo's high-flying stock price reached $44.625 per share. Things Could Get Crowded The fixed wireless space is going to get more crowded as new companies siphon funding from other, less popular areas, like wireless content. "There's a pretty big list of players offering non-line-of-site" technology, says Andy Fuertes, an analyst with Allied Business Intelligence. Fixed wireless includes MMDS, which provides speeds of 27 Mbps for up to 30 miles, and local multipoint distribution service (LMDS), which offers data services at distances up to five miles from a transmitter. The reasons for fixed wireless' success aren't surprising. Carriers want to keep costs low while keeping customers happy. Since fixed wireless is cheaper and quicker to deploy than other broadband technologies, it has the potential to capture much of the market share from CLECs providing DSL, say analysts. "You need infrastructure that supports 30 megabits per second or else you have a bottleneck," says Richard White, an analyst from the Aberdeen Group. "Wireless providers can provide that, so it's better than T1 or DSL service." Another reason why investors are excited is that fixed wireless is cheaper and easier to deploy nationwide, says Arnon Kohavi, senior vice president of strategic relations for Vyyo. "My personal belief is the [DSL providers] that will survive will be the large carriers," Kohavi says. As for the struggling CLECs? "What they're going to have to do is look at offering some type of mix between fiber and a wireless broadband solution in the U.S. or pair up with a [fixed wireless provider.]," White says. Also, there are likely to be mergers and partnerships among CLECs. "There are going to be [buying] opportunities, but it will be among those players that have deployed a lot and aren't doing particularly well," Greg Mycio, a telecom analyst with New Paradigm Resources Group, tells Wireless Data News' sister publication Communications Today. So, fixed wireless broadband should do well once Wall Street and carriers shake off their doom and gloom mood. It's cheap, easy technology that meets the need for high-speed access to the last mile. (Andy Fuertes, Allied Business Intelligence, 516/624-3113; Richard White, Aberdeen Group, 617/723-7890.)

To: Rob S. who wrote (10980)	4/17/2001 8:49:21 AM
From: MikeM54321	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 12823

"Fixed wireless is susceptible to a variety of problems (including bad weather)" Huh? Rob- Just yesterday I was reading a hard copy article on the cablecos view of BBFW. I'll try to find the direct quote now....I found it: MSOs Pressed To Try Wireless Solutions telecomclick.com privately their reactions to wireless range from disinterest to distaste.....“We did that in Florida, where there was a lot of rain and electrical interference. It's one of the reasons we began to explore fiber optics,” said a TWC spokesman. Of course this has to be taken with a grain of salt considering the source. BUT seems I do read lot's of reports about weather being a problem for BBFW. -MikeM(From Florida)