One sure way of getting broadband access to more people is to reach into areas that have previously been inaccessible, such as some suburbs and rural areas. Now, with the growth of technology, WISPs, or Wireless Internet Service Providers are now rising to meet the challenge.
Cell Phone service providers do a good job of giving internet access to their customers, but that doesn't qualify them as WISPs. Current data rates for LTE or Long Term Evolution Technology are much slower than today's broadband providers and can carry caps on how much data can be transferred. A WISP, however would be someone on the order of say, a Satellite TV provider such as Dish Network.
But, unlike a Satellite TV provider, a true WISP would actually be a mixture of satellite and cellular services. A WISP would use a combination of antennas and towers to carry the wireless transmission. In some cases they may make use of a dish placed on a subscriber's home.
Most WISPs offer faster upload speeds than Cable or DSL, which is around 5 to 10 mbps. Upper tier download speeds can reach up to 15 mbps, Some WISPs may put a limit on just how much data can be used, but some operate with no limit cap at all.
WISPs are regional services and generally require a two year contract plus a connection and/or activation fee to get started. The price for residential service may range from $30 to $80 a month.
A WISP may not be what you're looking for in an ISP, but with increasing availability and improved service and functionality, it may just be something that is at least worth looking into. You can find out if there is a WISP in your area by visiting the WISPA website.
No comments:
Post a Comment