Marshall Brain's Blog

Most of us currently connect to the Internet in one of three ways:

• Normal dialup connection (40-50 kbits/second, $10 - $20 per month)
• Cable modem (1 to 2 mbits/second, $30 to $50 per month)
• DSL (1 to 2 mbits/second, $30 to $50 per month)

If you live in a fairly dense neighborhood and lots of people around you have wireless hubs in their homes, there is also a free option. You can use an 802.11 (WiFi) card and get Internet access from an unsuspecting neighbor.

Dialup, cable and DSL all require a wire. There is now a push to bring wireless Internet broadband connectivity directly to consumers. Here are three options that are emerging:

• Nextel Broadband - This service is already available in some areas. Nextel is using its cellular infrastructure to provide broadband access in homes and small businesses. The huge advantage is that you can take your laptop anywhere in the service area and get broadband speed. 1 mbit/second access costs $65/month. As more cell phone companies deploy 3G, offerings like this could become more common.
• WiMax (aka 802.16) - The technology is being tested, and once it is deployed in a real way should give 802.11 hotspots an easy and wireless way to connect to the Internet without resorting to a DSL or cable modem.
• Motorola Canopy - (click on "Canopy Demo" in the left sidebar for a nice explanation of how it works) - provides a wireless replacement for Internet connectivity. A company has to set up antennas and sell the service. The service area stretches up to 2 miles from an antenna.

For remote areas, there are also satellite broadband connections like Direcway.

It should be interesting to see how this shakes out over the next year or two.