R&D is key in Boston’s proposed network

OpenairBoston (OAB) posted its RFI following a listen-only call last week. There will be a Q&A conference on the proposal tomorrow. (See details below. )

OAB, which is already operating several hot-spots and a square-mile test deployment, is a non-profit group that has been tasked by the city to set up the funding model for the network. It is looking to deploy a wholesale network that will be built and managed by a third party.

According to its RFI, the network will address the digital divide by making affordably priced access will be made available to low-income families and suggests “longer-term plans by the City to leverage the Network to improve the administration and delivery of City services by providing field personnel with better access to information.”

Those goals have become fairly standard for municipal deployments but what is most interesting in Boston is OAB’s proposal for a WirelessInnovationCenter that will support “an R&D ecosystem around the wireless network” to encourage the development of “new business models and company spin-outs.”

According to the RFI, the Center will allow faculty and students from the Boston area (home of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Tufts, BostonUniversity and others) to:

“design, develop and test advancements in Access Points, Repeaters and Services which will be ultimately deployed in the live OAB network. For this reason, we seek vendors that embrace open standards and support open source models of innovation. Vendors willing “open” their software, firmware and hardware platforms so that innovation may take place will be deemed most desirable. Intellectual Property may be shared with selected vendors for re-incorporation into their platforms, as they choose.

The WIC will be a breeding ground for potential new business models and company spin-outs. The WIC will also prioritize requirements from outside companies who wish to build business models based on the OAB network. The WIC will take a leadership role in wireless technology and services development for Boston, New England, and possibly globally.”

OAB is holding a Q&A Conference in Boston on Wednesday to discuss the RFI. Here are details from their invitation:

openairboston.net’s RFI Q&A Conference will take place at 1 PM this Wednesday, April 11th at the law offices of Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge, 111 Huntington Ave, 20th floor.

If you or a representative from your organization plan on attending in person, please RSVP no later than 3 PM on Tuesday, April 10 by leaving a message at (617) 542-5690 or via email to .

If you are unable to attend in person and would still like to participate in the conference, you may participate via conference call at (712) 421-8484 [passcode: 22307] and view the webinar here: