Several months ago, FuzeCore said it was looking into using UTOPIA lines in Tremonton to serve the neighboring town of Garfield Garland. Looks like as of 6 weeks ago, they started doing it over a 6-mile radius that includes the neighboring towns of Elwood, Collingston, Fielding, Bothwell, and Deweyville. (Seriously, I don’t know how I missed the press release and Google Alerts only just now picked it up.)
Per the conversation we had at that time, FuzeCore was planning on connection speeds upwards of 10Mbps up and down with VoIP service. The website shows that they’re advertising 8Mbps+, so this is in about the right range. The best competitor Frontier can do is 3Mbps DSL with no mention of their upstream speeds or if their onerous caps will be making a comeback.
Wireless backhaul is one of the markets that I’ve been hoping UTOPIA would chase since it can greatly extend the reach and revenues of the network. Hats off to FuzeCore for using their wireless expertise from Idaho to make it happen!
I think you mean Garland, not Garfield.
… which is proof positive that I should read a little slower. Thanks for the correction.
So, the good people of Garland and surrounding communities are able to have the benefit of the UTOPIA network without having to pony up tax money to pay the debt!
I heard that Fuzecore has sold several houses in Tremonton and are able to avoid the UTOPIA hook-up fees and of course UTOPIA won’t get monthly recurring revenue beyond the back haul fees.
It almost seems that up in Tremonton, FuzeCore is harming the UTOPIA network because they are not realizing the monthly fees neccessary to maintain the network and contribute to massive debt.
Way to go UTOPIA! Looks like you’re stepping over dollars to pick up dimes.
Yes they didn’t pony up tax money for the wireless hookup, however the revenue from those subscribers will help to pay the current debt so I don’t see the problem.
Nor does WIMAX represent the same cost or benefit as running fiber. WIMAX is a good way to extent the reach of a network in a limited fashion.
Anyway its my understanding that FuzeCore uses the none exclusive but still licensed 3.6ghz block link below to FCC page on this band.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=3650_3700
Color me confused Jack. FuzeCore brings additional customers to the network without any cost to UTOPIA and this is somehow a bad thing? Huh?
And I believe you are mistaken as to who FuzeCore can and cannot market to. As I understand it, they cannot pitch the wireless service to addresses that can be served with fiber. So again, where’s the downside?
I’m surprised you don’t see the problem here. FuzeCore is paying a set fee for backhaul. So they’re not bringing any customers to UTOPIA if they ride that backhaul. If they sell one or 100 customers their backhaul fee is the same. Yes – UTOPIA is selling a set pipe for a monthly fee but they are not going to benefit to UTOPIA beyond that monthly recurring charge. Now follow me on this. Let’s just suppose FuzeCore sells a customer in Tremonton a wireless connection. That customer is NOT paying to be on the UTOPIA network eventhough the UTOPIA fiber is in the ground in front of their house. UTOPIA just lost a customer! I have heard that FuzeCore has already sold into Tremonton with their wireless product. I personally feel that’s bad for UTOPIA and very bad for the good people of Tremonton who are on the hook for those looming bank notes.
IF and when UTOPIA goes under all FuzeCore has to do is arrange for a different back haul vendor. I suppose this is smart business for FuzeCore.
So… how do you know what FuzeCore is paying on the backhaul? Or are you just making assumptions? And did you miss where I pointed out that UTOPIA will not allow wireless service to be sold to homes passed by fiber? It also wouldn’t make sense for the service provider since they can’t offer the higher speeds and video packages found on UTOPIA. Why would you do something that restricts your revenue flow?
I’ve got contacts so I can find out just how that arrangement is going, but I doubt that UTOPIA or FuzeCore are dumb enough to make an arrangement that would shoot either of them in the foot.
“video packages found on UTOPIA”???
Did I miss that press release?
IF….Fuse Core can only sell in non-UTOPIA cities. I think this is a win-win.
However if they can sell wireless to non-build areas of UTOPIA cities, I’m not sure that is good as it reduces the “need” to build UTOPIA in those areas.
If you are able to get good data service (8mb/sec.) to your home you are less likely to press your city to have UTOPIA supported in building out your city?
BUT…UTOPIA has allowed service providers to sell satellite video services and not a UTOPIA service provider video service….something I think was very stupid and harmful to themselves….so I would NOT automatically assume they are smart enough to make a good deal and limit sales adequately.
It would seem that FuseCore might make a larger profit from a wireless customers (not having to pay transport fees) that from a wired customer? The install cost might also be lower? How does one effectively police the situation to insure customers in wired areas are not connected wirelessly?
Jack: FuzeCore says that they get more from a wired UTOPIA customer than they do from a wireless customer. They are also billed based on total bandwidth usage for wireless customers, not a flat rate. Once they get enough wireless customers in an area, the wired network will be built out into that neighborhood. So, basically, your kung fu is weak. 😉
Capt: No, you didn’t miss anything. I’m pointing out that when the white label video product is available, it would be dumb for providers to miss out on that revenue.