- Broadband Wireless Internet Access and Voice Over Internet Protocol: The Dawning Of A Truly Next Generation Telecommunications System
- Verizon’s Broadband Wireless Internet Access Announcement
- TiVo Done Right
Glenn Fleishman of Wi-Fi Networking News (linked at right) thought highly enough of the lead article to request an abstract for posting on WNN. I was honored that he asked, and put one together, which follows.
Broadband Wireless Internet Access and Voice Over Internet Protocol; The Dawning Of A Truly Next Generation Telecommunications System.
Published as the lead article in FOCUS On Broadband Wireless Internet Access newsletter 2004-01, published January 14, 2003, Steve Stroh, Editor
In this article, Stroh examines the implications of operating “do it yourself” Voice Over IP (VOIP) systems on top of “where do you need it?” Broadband Wireless Internet Access infrastructure.
Few others have made a connection between these two powerful “disruptive technologies”. Stroh quickly credits Brian Capouch, a Wireless Internet Service Provider, VOIP consultant, and college professor for his initial insights. At a recent WISPCON (Wireless Internet Service Providers Conference), Capouch demonstrated the power… and ease… of linking multiple Asterisk VOIP PBX (Private Branch Exchange – a small, privately owned telephone switch) systems. Asterisk is open source software that runs on top of Linux; it is found at the heart of a number of VOIP systems. Through the use of numerous well-supported interface cards, Asterisk systems can interface and interoperate with a very large number of legacy circuit-switched telephony systems and networks.
In the demonstration, Stroh was startled to learn that Asterisk’s capabilities can exert total control over the routing and all other aspects of incoming and outgoing telephone calls. In short, with Asterisk, circuit-switched telephony has essentially been virtualized and “open-sourced” much like Linux. With Asterisk, one can obtain “dialtone” where it’s cheap or convenient, and route that “dialtone” via the Internet to where it is needed.
Sitting in the midst of more than a hundred WISPs (standing room only), Stroh was filled with awe at the implication that each of the WISPs surrounding him could easily set up Asterisk VOIP PBX systems to service some or all of their customer’s telephony requirements. Some of those WISPs were the only source of affordable broadband in their service areas; not only could they provide Internet connectivity for their customers, but it’s now entirely conceivable that WISPs could also be the “telephony connectivity” for their customers. No longer are telephony services… and infrastructure, the exclusive domain of very well-funded mega-companies, or even co-ops serving only a few hundred customers.
FOCUS On Broadband Wireless Internet Access is an independent subscription publication published and edited by Steve Stroh, who has written extensively on the subject of Broadband Wireless Internet Access since 1997 when he began the Wireless Data Developments column in Boardwatch Magazine. Since then, Stroh has written and spoken extensively on the subject, including the appointment to a panel at the FCC’s seminal Spectrum Policy Task Force hearings in Summer, 2002. Subscribers to FOCUS include Internet Service Providers, venture capitalists, influential industry analysts… and FCC staff. More information on FOCUS On Broadband Wireless Internet Access can be found at www.strohpub.com/focus.