Business

Superior Broadband

Unlike many broadband service providers, this Internet business is expanding its infrastructure, adding staff and raising the value of the company with each new client it connects to the Internet. Sound too good to be true? Meet Superior Broadband, a wireless ISP operating from the banks of one of the Great Lakes.

by Patricia Fusco [August 22, 2001]

Located at one of the northernmost points in the middle of the country, where Wisconsin begins and Lake Superior ends, Duluth Minnesota is known for its Artic-like winters and fabulous sport fishing. This is one of the last spots on earth that you would expect to find a broadband service provider offering high quality high-speed wireless Internet access.

But one wireless Internet service is working hard to change these misconceptions. As a matter of fact, it's the only wireless service in town. Since 1999 Superior Broadband has operated a fixed wireless ISP network in Duluth. It supplies surrounding communities with fixed wireless broadband connectivity in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. As Superior Broadband's owner and operator, JP LaMere explains that he runs one of the oldest fixed wireless-only ISPs in the world. "We've been in business for three years and we've only offered fixed wireless services," LaMere said. "We never offered wired Internet services."

Remote possibilities
Superior Broadband deployed its initial network over the 2.4GHz spectrum band and LaMere said the technology has worked great for his business. And, business is so good that Superior Broadband is expanding its service area outside of Duluth.

"We have moved into other markets including Superior, WI, Cloquet, MN, and Grand Rapids, MN," LaMere said. "And we will be adding more markets soon." Superior Broadband is also a leading provider of innovative high-speed fixed wireless Internet access solutions in the area. The Internet service designs and deploys customized infrastructures for universities, public utility commissions, convention centers—yes, there is a convention center in Duluth—hotels, and even for other ISPs.

Fortunate son
The company also builds wireless local area networks (WLANs) for office roaming access, can provide wireless point-to-point data links between buildings, and virtual private networking (VPN) services.

LaMere said Superior Broadband connects directly to the Minneapolis fiber optic ring, so bandwidth isn't a problem for an ISP that seems to be as remote as his network is.

"We even provide colocation and webhosting services," LaMere said. "Businesses in the area are connected to our dedicated data pipes and our optimized network provides the quickest possible response time."

Superior Broadband is fortunate to have a very talented core of engineers. The WISP utilizes some of the most advanced mapping software to identify all the elements necessary for installing new Wi-Fi setups. LaMere said there's no guesswork involved.

"We can handle all of the cabling, equipment sheltering, antenna positioning, and electrical needs associated with RF engineering," LaMere said. "We even have talented guys for custom firewalling wireless systems. After all, a company like American Express isn't going to do business with you unless you provide secure system."

Superior Broadband is what could only be called a one-stop fixed wireless broadband shop. If the site licenses on towers or other favorable line-of-sight (LOS) locations are required, Superior Broadband finds these premium sites for clients. The WISP will even negotiate contracts for tower leases—whatever it takes to gain access to a clear path for a RF signal.

Non-obstructed airways
Just because Superior Broadband doesn't have a rival fixed wireless service provider operating in its footprint doesn't mean that it doesn't have to deal with RF interference.

"There's no competition in town," LaMere said. "But we still experience our fair share of interference, particularly from harbor traffic. It makes us work a little hard and reroute signals a bit."

It seems that Duluth makes an idyllic market that any adept WISP-wannabe could mirror in other parts of the country. But LaMere said there's more to Superior Broadband than just chasing profits.

"I estimate we could be profitable in about nine months if that was our goal," LaMere said. "But that's not what we're about. Our focus is on our infrastructure right now. We're working to break into larger markets—like Minneapolis. Then we'll talk about profits," he added.

Service swaps
There's been a lot of service switching going on lately—that is, wired ISPs taking steps to transform their connectivity services into high-speed wireless access providers. Although each technical skill set is a different beginning that produces the same end—access to the Internet—WISPs like Superior Broadband have to make you wonder if it's worth sticking with wire line services for good or venturing into a wireless-only sort of business.

An analyst from independent research firm the Yankee Group recently reported that in order for ISPs to survive they must align themselves with broadband providers to resell services to consumers, and they need to do so right now.

There are two problems with this short-sighted statement. First, this statement ignores fixed wireless broadband service providers like Superior Broadband—and the hundreds of other WISPs like it. And second, nobody needs to align themselves with anybody except their customers when it comes to fixed wireless high-speed networking.

—End