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We knew what the city wanted and believed that WiMAX was the answer. We needed a company that could turn the concept into reality. I met IBC at a tradeshow and instantly recognized that they had the credentials to get our network up and running. I look forward to keeping IBC as a primary partner as this project expands.
- Rick Tedder
President of Surfmasters, Inc.
WISP Success
IBC deployed 21 wireless networks in 2001 for ISPs looking to offer broadband services that they own and control. Since 2001 IBC has matured into a leading turnkey wireless systems integrator for ISPs and these ISPs are partnering with IBC to become a wireless integrator for the communities they serve. WISPs need a partner that understands the entire wireless process and can recommend solutions that work and are cost effective. IBC’s equipment supply guarantees the lowest prices on the industry’s leading equipment. When you place an order with IBC you’re working with a company that knows every aspect of an operating WISP – because we’re one too. IBC’s field engineers operation a network of 150 radios in all frequencies and manufacturers that we sell – this ensures that our technicians are certified and knowledgeable with real-life experiences. WISPs will benefit from IBCs 3-Layer (of the 7-layer OSI networking model) project management approach to ensure success in building a network that is highly reliable, manageable and able to deliver the services your customers desire. Call IBC – We Make Being a WISP Easier.
Appstate.net widens its local wireless net
By Frank Ruggiero
Two years ago, local Internet service provider Appstate.net embarked on a mission — Broadband for Everyone.
The mission consisted of three components. The first was to solidify the provider’s reliability. The network covers a bulk of Boone from its strategically positioned tower atop a mountain peak towards the northwest end of town, and “hot” spares are at the ready for every piece of equipment, meaning outages are limited to the man hours it takes to make a change.
“We think we’ve built a highly reliable network,” said Jim Hollis, business development manager. “Our network and bandwidth is quite stable, and our data center is so strong now.”
Armed with back-up batteries, the network is even temporarily immune to power outages.
The second step was to distribute the bandwidth throughout Boone. “From our tower site, we have access to 60 percent of Boone,” Hollis said, adding that various WiFi hot spots are located throughout town.
The third step was management of the bandwidth, and Hollis said all the equipment around Boone is monitored, meaning technicians can keep tabs on Internet activity and assess the performance of every customer’s networking. Meanwhile, InterMapper software alerts technicians to potential problems or outages. As such, technicians can learn about a problem before the customer does.
The local company is now ready to embark on the fourth step, namesake of the mission: broadband for everyone. “We’re now ready to begin Broadband for Everyone in Watauga County,” Hollis said.
Appstate.net already serves customers in Jefferson, West Jefferson and Sparta, selling bandwidth to other providers. The business was also contracted into a public/private venture in Wrightsville Beach, where the town went in with a private party to provide wireless Internet service to tourists. The city placed telephone poles upon which to mount the transmitters and provided power, while Appstate.net built a network and brought it online.
“And we want to do it in our backyard, in Boone” Hollis said. “We’d love to work with the town to light up Boone with WiFi.”
The provider is equipped with powerful radio transmitters and “everything in our network is top of the line, top-shelf wireless equipment,” he added. All the ISP would need are facilities and access to power, as transmitters could easily be placed atop telephone or light posts Hollis said, adding Blowing Rock would be another ideal town for such service, considering its tourism industry.
Wireless hot spots could be free to customers, depending on the terms of the partnership.
Hollis said there are many areas in the county in which such service is unavailable. “We’d like to work with the county in serving these under-served areas,” he said. Were access permitted atop Howard Knob, he said bandwidth could be distributed from there throughout almost the entire county. To do so, though, partnerships would need to be established with utility companies.
The product, though, could allow for affordable bandwidth for the county’s schools, as well as the public safety sector. “I’m sure EMS and fire departments would all love to be able to tap into one common network for emergencies,” Hollis said.
Appstate.net also offers voice over Internet protocol, granting customers telephone service through the Internet, oftentimes lowering long-distance rates considerably. In a similar vein, video surveillance for security purposes is another available service.
Appstate.net is now in its fifth year of business. Hollis, owner of Internet Broadband Consulting, purchased the business three years ago. Both companies are now owned by IVI Communications, a holding company based in Los Angeles.
“We’re entrepreneurs,” Hollis said. “We don’t have the funding of Appalachian State University or BellSouth. Every dollar we make has been put into this network. All decisions are made locally, and we’re now positioned where we need the partnership to get broadband for everyone.”
For more information, call Appstate.net at 265-3773.