Courtesy of Engadget comes this RedHerring piece which claims that according to internal documents, cable’s R&D arm CableLabs is working on a new wireless initiative tenatively dubbed CableRoam. CableRoam is supposedly a new tech initiative that would pull together all the emerging wireless options, including WiMax, Wi-Fi and metro Wi-Fi as part of a “cable-optimized” wireless solution.
According to documents, CableRoam would look to provide a connection between a variety of wireless technologies including WiMAX, Metro Wi-Fi, and home Wi-Fi networks, representing a major move by cable to offer wireless services. CableLab’s Peter MacCormack, director of advanced digital technologies, confirmed discussions of the initiative, but said plans for the technology or the name of the proposal were not finalized. “Whatever technology we specify in the future, we want to make sure that all of these wireless architectures can work together in the most efficient and cost-effective manner,” said Mr. MacCormack.
What’s really interesting is that cable might become a competitor in the muni-Wi-Fi business, an emerging form of broadband that the industry has opposed.
The fact that CableRoam includes citywide Wi-Fi in its plans also gives weight to the controversial Wi-Fi services that cities across the United States are building. The cable industry has formerly been an enemy of citywide Wi-Fi deployments because cable companies saw the technologies as a threat to their already-deployed services. But in recent months, cable companies have been looking at the technology as a valuable option to compete with cellular. “You’ll see some announcements with cities deploying muni-Wi-Fi with cable operators this year,” said Mr. MacCormack.
If cable operators indeed throw their hats into the muni-Wi-Fi ring, that could certainly make similar efforts by Google and EarthLink all the more intense — it’s one thing for Google and EarthLink to try to easily scoop market share from incumbent network providers, but it’s a different kettle of fish to go head-to-head against cable operators. I, for one, would love to see the fireworks that would erupt if Google, EarthLink and cable operators became stiff competitors in landing municipal Wi-Fi contracts.
Cynthia Brumfield at 11:48 AM|Comments(0)
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