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

To: Bernard Levy who wrote (2890)	2/17/1999 12:59:00 AM
From: wonk	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

Bernard: I am not 100% certain, but judging from the operating frequencies of the Global Pacific antennas, and from the footprint of their cells, they are probably using the MMDS spectrum. It appears they are using unlicensed spectrum; the ISM band at 2.4 GHz. globalpac.com This is the same spectrum that PSInet is/will be using for "wireless" internet access. #reply-7701230 IMHO, in the major markets it will get very crowded far more quickly than anyone anticipates. Just a point of information on the MMDS spectrum: there is a total of 198 MHz available divided into 33 6 MHz channels. 31 of those channels reside at approx 2.5 - 2.6 GHz almost evenly divided between MMDS and ITFS designations. MMDS was the acronym for channels reserved for commercial subscription broadcasting; ITFS (Instructional Fixed Television Service) was reserved for educational institutions. The remaining 2 channels are the original MDS channels at 2.1 GHz; always claimed by the industry in press releases but not very useful given the separation in frequency. If the MMDS spectrum was a blank slate, I would be much more willing to deploy a broadband wireless network at 2.5 than at the higher bands. Unfortunately, it is probably the most balkanized commercial spectrum block; the complications which arise from the "shared" use with educational licensees are another major headache. Furthermore, almost all the major players are overburdened with debt and most will have to die before something broadband can be reborn. In addition to a pretty good historical perspective on the Industry, here is what CAI Wireless claimed in its Chapter 11 required 8K filing regarding the technical parameters of a BBW system at 2.5 GHz. CAI has designed cellular networks for each of its markets with each cell having a five-mile radius. The five-mile network design is the result of an exhaustive engineering study of propagation and coverage statistics and design parameters such as the availability of transmission towers, modulation schemes, and transmit power requirements from the subscriber premises. the design also incorporates a 2 times frequency usage pattern within each cell. By segmenting each cell into four quadrants, each frequency set for two-way communications can be used twice within each cell. As an example, the Boston market is built out with 25 cells by the tenth year of the plan and covers approximately 88% of the homes and businesses in the market area. The Company estimates the total cost for each cell is approximately $857,000. Current analysis indicates that this cellular design is economical on an incremental cell basis down to approximately 20,000 homes and businesses per cell. sec.gov ww