Government Technology - January 2008 - (Page 34)

the lull in new development could offer local governments time to evaluate alternative technologies for simplifying the process of delivering widespread wireless coverage. A Better Way? WiMAX, which can produce a wireless cloud connectivity to an entire city using just a few base stations, is emerging as a viable alternative. WiMAX networks require access points roughly every two square miles for urban areas, and one every six square miles for rural areas. By contrast, Wi-Fi networks require anywhere from 24 to 40 access points per square mile for urban areas, said to Riz Khaliq, IBM global Coming Soon business executive for governFor the most part, ment. Depending on terrain, WiMAX-equipped cities often need a few extra computer hardWiMAX antennas attached ware has yet to reach the market. to buildings to complete the But Intel plans to cloud. But that is simpler than release a plethora installing hundreds of tiny Wiof mobile devices Fi nodes all over town. with embedded Depending on user proximWiMAX capabiliity, WiMAX can offer stronger ties in 2008. signals and faster service than Wi-Fi, but few local governments have implemented it. One reason is computer hardware with embedded WiMAX capabilities largely has not yet reached the market. By comparison, virtually all laptops and other mobile devices feature Wi-Fi capability. But Wi-Fi’s lock on hardware compatibility may end within the next few years: Intel has committed to release a plethora of mobile Citywide WiMAX Brownsville, Texas, chose WiMAX over Wi-Fi to build its citywide network. The project was scheduled to be operational this month. “Cisco’s recent purchase of Navini, [a WiMAX equipment provider], is a big example of where WiMAX is becoming, essentially, industry standard,” he said. “In the longer term, that’s going to commoditize the network, which is going to improve the value and the reasons for these governments to make sure their government has the cloud over their station.” Some assert that local governments should stick to Wi-Fi because their hardware infrastructures are already Wi-Fi compliant. Many cities and counties can’t afford to replace all of their hardware at once or retrofit it with WiMAX conversion cards to use the network, said Craig Settles, an Oakland, Calif.-based analyst specializing in municipal wireless. “The near-universal availability of WiFi means these cards are already built into end-user devices with no extra costs, as opposed to adding $150 cards for each user,” Settles said. “If you have several hundred or “We’re not building a toy here. This is not for home use. This is in government. It needs to be secure. It needs to be consistent. It needs to be up 365 days a year and can’t be down if you’ve got public safety on it.” Gail Bruciak, management information systems director, Brownsville, Texas Others suggest a combination of Wi-Fi and WiMAX, in which WiMAX functions as a backhaul. In that scenario, a government would produce WiMAX signals, but install Wi-Fi nodes at the end of them. This way, as WiMAX-compliant hardware becomes available, end-users can switch to a straight WiMAX connection when they desire. The hybrid model also offers a Wi-Fi network future redundancy. In the event a given WiFi access point failed, the user could quickly switch to a WiMAX connection. Settles supports the WiMAX backhaul option. “WiMAX has backhaul value — usefulness where there is fairly flat terrain and a great option when you don’t have light poles or have homes that are spaced hundreds of yards from each other,” he said. As local governments go back to the drawing board for municipal wireless plans, a look at the status of WiMAX may show the nationwide municipal Wi-Fi setback to be a gift in disguise. Once a government builds a technological infrastructure, it is typically stuck with it for several years past its prime. Before governments continue marching toward municipal Wi-Fi, could a shift toward WiMAX keep local governments moving in a cutting-edge direction? devices with embedded WiMAX compatibilities by 2008. Sprint continues its commitment to spread WiMAX networks across the United States despite its failed attempt to do so in partnership with Internet service provider Clearwire. Nokia and Cisco have also signaled strong interest in WiMAX through their investments, Khaliq said. JAN_08 a couple thousand people, this isn’t cheap. And if departments buy these cards on their own, there’s no guarantee of uniformity, which means higher device management costs. What’s more, WiMAX cards may not be compatible with hardware cities already have, so either you don’t equip everyone, or you buy new computing devices.” The Long View in Brownsville Brownsville, Texas, plans to have its citywide WiMAX network fully functional by January 2008. The city opted for WiMAX, not wanting to deploy and maintain hundreds of Wi-Fi access points, according to Gail Bruciak, management information systems 34 http://www.govtech.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Government Technology - January 2008

Government Technology - January 2008 Contents Point of View Big Picture The Last Mile On the Scene CIO Sightings Four Questions for... Spectrum Location, Location, Location Digital Governor Back to the Drawing Board Waukesha Goes Green Collaring Dangerous Dogs Public Sector Goes Web 2.0 Bounce Back SACWIS Rollout Simple Strategy Products Personal Computing How It Works signal:noise

Government Technology - January 2008

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