IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/telpol/v32yi3-4p163-181.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Towards a Wi-Fi ecosystem: Technology integration and emerging service models

Author

Listed:
  • Gunasekaran, Vinoth
  • Harmantzis, Fotios C.

Abstract

This paper outlines emerging business models of heterogeneous wireless networks that are mainly Wi-Fi centric. Wi-Fi networks can be integrated with the Internet and cellular infrastructures to offer innovative services (data and voice) to individuals and businesses. In the metro area network or a "hot city" type of coverage, an integration of WiMAX and Wi-Fi technologies will provide the most cost-effective solution of backhaul and access, for both voice and data services. In the cellular arena, as mobile operators look for new ways to connect, Wi-Fi can easily be integrated with the existing mobile data networks (2.5Â G/3Â G). An integrated offering that combines the mobility of cellular and the speed of Wi-Fi is an ideal mix for mobile broadband subscribers. This article also analyzes how Wi-Fi technology is being complementary to other wireless technologies, leading to an expansion of an organized Wi-Fi ecosystem. From an integration standpoint, this article shows the importance of Wi-Fi for cellular operators and also shows how Wi-Fi is crucial for WiMAX technology to evolve, till the mobile version of WiMAX becomes a reality. Finally, the paper describes why regulators and policy makers should seek suitable strategies to promote or encourage Wi-Fi as an alternative broadband access technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Gunasekaran, Vinoth & Harmantzis, Fotios C., 0. "Towards a Wi-Fi ecosystem: Technology integration and emerging service models," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(3-4), pages 163-181, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:32:y::i:3-4:p:163-181
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308596108000104
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sanghoon Lee & Wonjoon Kim, 2017. "The knowledge network dynamics in a mobile ecosystem: a patent citation analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 111(2), pages 717-742, May.
    2. Kang, Jin-Su & Downing, Stephen, 2015. "Keystone effect on entry into two-sided markets: An analysis of the market entry of WiMAX," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 170-186.
    3. Kang, Jin-Su & Lee, Hong-Yuh & Tsai, Julio, 2011. "An analysis of interdependencies in mobile communications technology: The case of WiMAX and the development of a market assessment model," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 284-293.
    4. Hüsig, Stefan, 2013. "The disruptive potential of PWLAN at the country-level: The cases of Germany, the UK, and the USA," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 1060-1070.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:telpol:v:32:y::i:3-4:p:163-181. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30471/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.