 |
Growth of Wireless Local Loop Systems Severely Stunted.
Bethesda Maryland: In a
major multi-client study on Fixed Wireless
Access Systems which will be released
in 10 days through Dittberner Associates,
Inc., Mr. Donald Dittberner, president
of the firm, commented on the progress
within the wireless local loop market.
Mr. Dittberner explained, "The worldwide
installed base of WLL has not been growing
much in the past few years". He continued
to reveal, "that recent news from
certain Latin American countries (including,
Brazil, Argentina, Columbia and Mexico)
indicates that the respective governments
are taking a renewed interest in providing
phone service in rural areas and also
in the deployment of WLL for that purpose.
Frequencies allocated for this purpose
are in cellular and PCS bands as well
as the 3.4 to 3.6 GHz band and in some
cases, also frequencies in the 400 to
450 MHz band. Operators typically have
an obligation to build out a given territory
in a pre-determined timeframe, and a variety
of precautions are established to insure
that they do not use the allocated frequencies
to provide more profitable mobile service.
Nevertheless, it appears that in some
instances WLL operators have refused to
use non-mobile frequencies (such as the
3.4 to 3.6 GHz band) and demanded (and
obviously received) cellular and PCS frequencies.
While such operators are at present not
allowed to add mobile service, they seem
to hope that such restriction will be
lifted sometime in the future".
"At this time", continues Mr.
Dittberner, "It may be too early
to predict the future deployment level
of WLL in less developed countries. According
to the developments reported above, they
do appear to be encouraging". Reflecting
on the latest Dittberner report, Mr. Dittberner
commented, "Our study, drawing data
from both Fixed Wireless Access Suppliers
and Telecom Service Providers, indicates
that there are only 9 million subscribers
to Fixed Wireless WLL services worldwide!"
Three of the Twelve Reasons
given for WLL's Low Acceptance
Past, Current & Future
Released in the Dittberner report,
"Fixed Wireless Access Systems to
the Public Switched Telephone Network",
(Which covers all three major fixed wireless
access technologies WLL, MMDS and LMDS)
- Ability of cellular
or PCS handsets and services to adequately
service the role for POTS fixed wireless
access (as proven in Japan) with plans
for Third Generation wireless to continue
to do the same - without the need for
a fixed installation.
- Satellite telephony
continues to promise to serve rural/mountainous
areas, reducing the political pressure
for either terrestrial wireline or wireless
solutions. Thus far, such satellite
solutions have failed to deliver telephony
services at acceptable prices but have
delayed implementation of other technologies.
- Where WLL systems have
been deployed in the past, many have
been subsequently displaced by wireline
facilities, despite their continued
satisfactory field performance. Many
have been redeployed to other unserved
rural area, reducing the market demand
and, hence, the supplier interest in
this technology. Several major WLL suppliers
have already exited from this market
segment.
For additional information,
Dittberner Associates, Inc.
e-mail: sales@dittberner.com
www.dittberner.com
Tel 1 301 652 8350
Dittberner Associates, Inc.
is an international market research and
consulting firm specializing in the analysis
of advanced technologies for the global
public telecommunications network. Through
its multi-client study series, THE Dittberner
PERSPECTIVE, and custom studies, the company
provides guidance in many areas of the
telecommunications industry including:
technology assessment and forecasting,
market requirements analysis and market
forecasts for telecom equipment and services,
public and private network planning, corporate
and business planning, new venture / new
business development, and tariff and regulatory
policy formulation assistance. Fore more
information, visit the company's website
at www.dittberner.com
Dittberner Associates,
Inc. 4641 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 100,
Bethesda, MD 20814 USA
Telephone: +1 (888) 652-8382 Fax: +1 (301)
657-8084
E-mail: sales@dittberner.com
|
sign in
