‧Development of Emerging Wireless Cities in Asia‧Development of Pune's Wireless City Project Specific Services to Be Provided Operation Model Project Expenses Equipment and Services Current Status and Future Plans‧MIC Perspective‧Appendix
Cisco, Intel, Microsense, Nomadix, Pune Municipal Corporation
Figure 1 Wireless Technology Used in Unwired Pune
Figure 2 Equipment Used by Microsense in Pune's Wireless Network -- Nomadix Gateway
Figure 3 Equipment Used by Microsense in Pune's Wireless Network -- Cisco Aironet 1100 Series Access Point
Specific Public/Private Partnership Model Used
Pune's government has adopted a public/private partnership model in building the Unwired Pune wireless network. Intel serves as a technical partner and consultant, while Microsense is the main investor and the company responsible for building and operating Pune's planned 400 square kilometer network. In the Pune government's plan, executor of the plan Microsense will cover 50% of the costs, while the remaining costs will be covered by private financial institutions, sponsors and investors. Therefore, Microsense will not have to bear all the construction and operation costs. Microsense's risk exposure is half that compared to other wireless city projects where companies that cooperate with city governments must bear all construction and operating costs.
Challenges for the Project Remain
Pune has emphasized free wireless services in the initial phase, but concrete results have yet to be seen. Close to 40% of the urban population reside in poverty-stricken areas. With such low income, there is little chance an individual can own a notebook PC or handheld device capable of accessing the wireless network. Moreover, the majority of the city's population is not proficient in English. The fact that website instructions for how to log into the wireless network and installation are written in English will affect the usage rate of wireless network services. So even if these services are offered free of charge or at a low price, only big local businesses and academic institutions are capable of using them. Present social circumstances render the majority of urban residents unable to partake in Unwired Pune.
Appendix
Glossary of Terms
AP
Access Point
BOT
Build-Operate-Transfer
CFC
Call for Collaborative
NBN
National Broadband Network
WBN
Wireless Broadband Network
WiMAX
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
List of Companies
Cisco
Intel
Microsense
Nomadix
Pune Municipal Corporation