Can Cisco Systems transform the perfect storm into the perfect business opportunity? That's the question facing Cisco as the company heads to a municipal broadband conference in Santa Clara on October 21.
For those who missed the first two chapters of the municipal broadband story, let me get you up to speed. In Chapter One, several big city mayors promised their citizens free or low-cost universal broadband access. It was a "feel good" political story. How can affordable broadband be a bad thing?
In Chapter Two, we discovered that these municipal wireless networks were more difficult to deploy than expected. Successful projects in Providence, R.I.; Oakland County, Mich.; Corpus Christi, Texas; and other locations were overshadowed by big setbacks in San Francisco and several other major cities.
In Chapter Three -- beginning right now -- we finally get to the heart of the matter: Applications. Find some killer applications and the municipal broadband market will follow (that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it). A case in point: Cisco earlier this week announced its intense focus on public safety applications for emergency first responders. Smart move. Many of the most successful municipal broadband networks involve police, safety and video surveillance systems.
Instead of posing with mayors for municipal broadband photo opportunities, Cisco and its rivals are zeroing in on the municipal departments that are willing to pay a few bucks for mission critical wireless systems.
Chapter Three hasn't played out yet. In fact, we're only getting started. There is a risk that some smaller wireless mesh vendors will suffer more layoffs or go bankrupt before this chapter is complete.
Still, some venture capitalists are willing to pump money into very targeted opportunities. (Firetide just received $14.4 million.) And newer technologies -- such as 802.11n -- promise to enhance municipal broadband network performance.
Where do Cisco and its mesh wireless rivals go from here? I'll be searching for answers and blogging live from the MuniWireless conference, October 21-23. If you're at the event look me up.
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