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Wireless Internet Service Provider




Wireless Internet Service Provider ('''WISPs''') are Internet Service Provider s with networks built around Wireless Network ing. Technology used range from commonplace Wi-Fi Mesh Networking or proprietary equipment designed to operate over open 900MHz and 2.4GHz bands or licensed frequencies in the UHF or MMDS bands. Often they offer additional services, like location based content, Virtual Private Network ing and Voice Over IP . Isolated municipal ISPs and larger state-wide initiatives alike are tightly focused on wireless networking.

WISP's are predominantly in rural environments where Cable and Digital Subscriber Line s are not available. WiMax is expected to become mainstream in the near future, bringing with it dramatic changes to the marketplace by increasing the number of interoperable equipment on the market and making mobile data transmission feasible, increasing the utility of such networks in rural environments. However, high-bandwidth wireless backhauls are already common in major cities, providing levels of bandwidth previously only available through expensive fibre optic connections.

Typically, the way that a WISP operates is to pull a large and usually expensive point to point connection to the center of the area they wish to service. From here, they will need to find some sort of elevated point in the region, such as a radio or water tower, on which to mount their equipment. On the consumers side, they will mount a small dish to the roof of their home and point it back to the WISP's dish. When operating over the tightly limited range of the heavily populated 2.4ghz band, as nearly all 802.11-based WiFi providers do, it is not uncommon to also see access points mounted on light posts and customer buildings.

Since it is difficult for a single service provider to build an infrastructure that offers global access to its subscribers, roaming between service providers is encouraged by the Wi-Fi Alliance with the '' WISPr '' protocol. WISPr is a set of recommendations approved by the alliance which facilitate inter-network and inter-operator roaming of Wi-Fi users. Modern wireless technology has comparable Latency to other terrestrial broadband networks, .


PROBLEMS WITH WISP SERVICES

  • Most technologies operating in the 2.4ghz spectrum and higher require radio Line Of Sight .

  • The range and maximum bandwidth of 700 and 900mhz equipment is sharply reduced in Non Line Of Sight applications.

  • The range of unlicensed equipment is often limited severely by government mandated limits on broadcast power.

  • Interference can be caused by everything from sun spots to other broadcasters, including home users on open bands and neighboring licensees of licensed spectrum, including other WISPs.

  • WISPs often must mount their antennae outdoors, or even atop small Radio Tower s, leaving them prone to damage from lightning and extreme winds.



SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINKS

  • WISP Centric – provides industry news and information as well as a resource for global initiatives.

  • Start a WISP – assisting new WISPs by providing daily input, assistance and advice from established WISPs. Also includes an image gallery and discussion forum.

  • WISP Directory – a global directory of WISPs including WISP-related organizations and entities.

  • North Texas WISP Directory – List of 90+ WISPs in North Texas.

  • WISP Forum – Very large and useful WISP forum.

  • Daily Wireless – Wireless ISP news

  • Collines.net – Wireless ISP directory for rural areas in France

  • WISPA – WISPA, a trade association for WISP owner/operators

  • PART-15 – a wireless organization for WISP's using unlicensed spectrum.

  • WISPTalk.com – Get help starting your new WISP