Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) are some of the fastest-growing highly specialized service providers in the telecom sector; their proliferation has been noteworthy both in the United States and worldwide.
The Wireless Service Provider Association (WISPA)'s flagship annual conference and members meeting, WISPAPALOOZA, took place in Las Vegas in October of this year. In this article we provide a summary of some of the key takeaways from the event.
Event vitals
WISPAPALOOZA 2024 took place from Monday, October 14, to Thursday, October 17. It had approximately 2,500 people in attendance, with about 200 exhibitors. It started off with a special opening event celebrating 20 years of WISPA and included keynote sessions, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and even a comedy show and WISPA’s very own Rural Revolution Band! This year’s event will be memorable for years to come.
Main takeaways
Throughout the conference, the overarching theme was that wireless broadband continues to meet the demand for rural connectivity. This year’s conference spotlighted not only how wireless networks are bridging the digital divide, but also their indispensable role in delivering community services. These services are especially important during and after natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, where reliable connectivity is needed to supplement emergency response and support recovery efforts.
Demand for connectivity
There is an increasing demand for connectivity and for connected devices that require routable public IPv4 addresses. This surge is placing unprecedented pressure on the already-limited IPv4 address space. The sheer number of devices requiring routable public IPv4 addresses is a pressing concern for WISPs and network providers alike.
To address this issue, vendors showcased a range of innovative solutions and technologies designed to not only manage current demand but also future-proof networks as connectivity needs continue to grow. The conference highlighted the urgency of implementing scalable solutions to ensure that networks can adapt to the ever-increasing number of devices.
Efficient architecture
Another common area of discussion—especially in the breakout sessions—was the importance of cost-efficient, high-performance architecture and design specifically for the fiber access layer of the network in multi-dwelling units (MDUs). WISPs deliver last-mile connectivity to the customer, but unlike residential customers, business and enterprise customers typically require either multi-tenancy capabilities or the distribution of network access throughout their facilities. For this reason, the discussions primarily revolved around the hardware required to distribute network services in large buildings and apartment complexes, with a focus on selling strategies for MDU customers.
New spectrum opportunities
A noteworthy area for growth that has emerged recently is the creation of new spectrum opportunities in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), 5.9 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. These frequencies promise enhanced performance, reduced latency, and greater network reliability. Several manufacturers displayed high-performance products like access points and antennas that are optimized for these newly opened frequencies. By leveraging these spectrums, WISPs can significantly expand their capacity and improve service quality, particularly in underserved areas.
Emerging technologies
Other sessions highlighted emerging technologies poised to impact business, such as AI, blockchain, IoT, smart homes, and smart city initiatives. These technologies hold the potential to revolutionize connectivity and create new business opportunities, offering WISPs a chance to stay ahead of the curve.
Other showcased technologies
Several additional industry-leading wireless customer solutions were showcased for various application areas, including long range (LoRa), fixed wireless access (FWA), Wi-Fi 7, and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) solutions designed to provide next-generation connectivity for WISPs.
Conclusion
It is undeniable that WISPs play an important role in providing essential connectivity in areas where other broadband options are unavailable. WISPAPALOOZA 2024 reaffirms that with the introduction of new technologies and standards, and through partnering with forward-thinking vendors like TeleDynamics, WISPs can remain competitive and thrive in their specialized areas of deployment.
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