Different perspectives on open access networks

At Mountain Connect, a panel discussed some of the pros and cons of open access networks. These networks are deployed by one company and then leased to multiple internet service providers, which can then offer broadband service to end customers. Jack Waters, CEO of Intrepid Fiber Networks, said open access networks give consumers a choice of providers. “The idea of choice is incredibly powerful,” he said. “It’s not something you ever got in telecom.” He also said that building open access networks can make things less disruptive for communities. They don’t have to endure multiple companies digging up streets to deploy fiber. They’ll just have to suffer the disruption once, and then multiple providers can use the same infrastructure. From the perspective of the service providers that lease an open access network, their margins are not as high. But neither are their risks. Warren Woodward, director of Broadband at XMission Internet, a broadband provider based in Salt Lake City, Utah, said his company uses fiber infrastructure built by Utopia Fiber. But he cautioned that as more service providers lease the network, XMission’s revenues go down. He said having 2-5 providers for a small city “is probably all you need.” Too many service providers can also make it too easy for customers to constantly switch providers.