Who’s missing out on muni Wi-Fi? The cable guys, but maybe not much longer
Who’s really missing out on opportunities in municipal wireless broadband? The cable operators. They have the infrastructure for backhaul, franchises, customers, and content. But that may be changing. Andy Abramson says it’s not just the telcos who are missing out on the opportunities in Wi-Fi. The cable operators, who should be more active in this space, are also missing out:
But the companies that are missing the boat on WiFi, MuniWifi, Coffee shop WiFi and hotel WiFi are the cable MSOs. They already have the fiber in the ground that runs right past those locations. Their sales force already calls on many local merchants. I mean, how expensive is a router and what does it take to install a few cable drops and turn on broadband.
That may be changing. In a recent public tender, Time Warner Cable contacted potential bidders seeking to partner with them in the city’s municipal wireless project.
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Yes, indeed, the cable companies are taking a close look at this market. Cablevision, for instance, is closely watching the public broadband market on Long Island. We expect to hear more from Cablevision re: public broadband over the next two months or so.