Wireless city networks. A comparative analysis of US-EU initiatives on motivations, goals, services and their relation to network structure

Wireless City Networks are a recent, but growing phenomenon. In the United States
hundreds of cities are looking into the possibility of rolling out Wifi or WIMax
based networks over substantial parts of their territory. Worldwide it is estimated
that more than 1.000 cities have plans to deploy such networks (CDG, 2005). The
underlying rationale is that wireless city networks are cheap and flexible
alternatives for fixed broadband networks. Cities more and more see broadband
Internet access as a necessary and therefore public utility to be provided to their
communities at affordable prices or even free of charge. As current market forces
often fail to provide cheap services, cities argue it is their obligation to fill the
void.
The deployment of wireless city networks is however more than just infrastructure
provision. Initiatives are linked to broader city policies related to digital divide,
city renewal, stimulation of inovation, stimulation of tourism, strengthening the
economic fabric of the city, etc. In this article we will argue that explicit and
implicit goals are directly linked to the coverage and topology of networks, the
technology used, the price structure, etc. Furthermore we will argue that the
differences in context between the US and Europe explain the different
infrastructural trajectories taken. Overall and on the basis of empirical findings we
caution for the over optimistic view that wifi based wireless city networks are an
equal alternative for providing broadband access. There are both financial and
technological uncertainties which might have a serious impact on the performance of
these initiatives.
The paper is based on a comparative analysis of 17 wireless city network initiatives
in 15 cities, 9 European and 6 American. On the basis of a literature study an
analytical framework was developed, which was subsequently used to analyse and
describe the cases. In this paper we will subsequently discuss 1) the networks their
charactersitics, 2) the goals and target groups envisioned, 3) the services and
prices offered, 4) the investments needed and financial arrangements taken, 5) the
problems and results encountered. The paper ends with 6) overall conclusions and
recommendations for policy and future research. The paper does not describe the
individual initiatives as such. However, the arguments made will be substantiated
with information from the original case studies.