WISPs see fiber as their next growth area

Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPS) are making moves to either invest in their own fiber network or share an open access network because they see fiber as an opportunity to grow. Mike Wendy, communications director with the trade group Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) said that anecdotally he’d estimate about 30% of WISPA members are doing fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). One WISP that is doing both fiber and fixed wireless access (FWA) is Cajun Broadband in Louisiana, a small provider with about 2,000 subscribers. Jimmy Lewis, president of Cajun Broadband, said, “We started as a WISP. Now we’re overbuilding ourselves in a lot of areas.”  Lewis said most of the locations where Cajun is building fiber are “pretty rural.” He said that starting with FWA and moving to fiber is a good strategy because “it’s easier to convert a customer than to get them.”