Addressing universal-broadband-service implications with wireless mesh networks

Fueled by some successes in urban areas, demand is increasing for broadband telecommunications in non-urban areas, but many of the latter areas lack adequate means of delivering the desired services to residential customers and businesses—at least for the last mile of connectivity. This research examines wireless’s potential to mitigate the so-called “last-mile” problem by supplying broadband services to non-urban areas using a wireless mesh network configuration. Methodologically, 270 randomly generated “last mile,” low-density neighborhoods are studied, each under nine different conditions indicating various quality-of-service (QoS) (bandwidth; number of hops) offerings. Results indicate that for the neighborhoods studied, wireless mesh networks are not a panacea providing broadband universally. Rather, it is first shown that even when bandwidth is reduced dramatically, Internet service providers must include in their planning of the mesh such factors as hops, bandwidth, visibility, network density, and interactions of these factors to ensure that favorable conditions exist for profitable operation. Then, guidelines are given assuming current equipment and service-provision costs. Finally, cost reductions and/or transmission-range improvements necessary to bring economic broadband service to areas that are more rural are prescribed.