Mesh Wi-Fi network for the Northeast of Brazil

Page history last edited by Brian D Butler 1 yr ago

Mesh Wi-Fi network for the Northeast of Brazil

 

Idea originated by :  brianbutler

Additional contributors to idea: 

(if you add anything, feel free to add your name here)

 

 

Business Plan:

 

business plan_wifi Brazil.pdf

 

 

 

Basic Idea

 

On a recent business trip ... .i was frustrated with how difficult it was to find a broadband internet connection.  Even in the wealthy beach zone, I was surprised to see how few apartments (or businesses) had high speed internet access.

 

 

 

This city has grown really quickly. Most of the high-rises are new. 

 

 

 

Laying broadband cables to each building is slow and expensive.

 

 

 

This is a prime candidate for “jumping” the technology of “wires”…..and going directly wireless (WIFI)

 

 

 

 

What is the Technology?

 

How many of you have ever used Wi-Fi before…. at home, at the airport….or at Starbucks….

 

Good.

 

 

 

Now, imagine that network on steroids!   With municipal Wi-Fi, that’s exactly what we are talking about.  

 

We extend the network by hanging a series of beefed- up Wi-Fi receivers from light posts….all over town. 

 

The electricity from the light post powers the router …that beams a signal to your laptop…..wherever you are

 

 

 

An arrangement like this is called a “Mesh” network  and the signal jumps from one router to another until it finally finds an access point to the internet. 

 

The advantage is that since there are fewer wires, it's less expensive. If a few nodes fail, others in the mesh can compensate for it.

 

 

 

In addition to being far less expensive than running high-speed cable to every location in a city, it's a lot faster to build.

 

 

This is not a new technology.   In fact, there are over 300 cities in the US that are currently building  (or have already built)  a system just like this.

 

In California its almost impossible to find a city that is NOT planning a system just like this

 

In Houston, they are planning on coating the entire city in one giant hot-spot.

 

Our proposal is to replicate this same system in Brazil, starting with a prototype in Recife (large city in the Northeast)

 

 

see also:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details of Idea + Strategy

 

 

Why Recife?

 

 

 

 

 

This is a good prototype city because (a) it can make money, and (b) it is a good representation of other cities in the region

 

I believe that Recife is unique for a number of reasons.  First of all…..all of the wealthy clients are in one location.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second of all, most of these million $ condos are new, and very few of them actually have broadband access.

 

 

 

 

And if they do, its very expensive   .

 

 

 

I believe that with Wi-Fi we can cut that price in half

 

 

 

 

 

This is important because 51% of the people in Recife say they don’t have broadband because its too expensive…..while another 13% say they just don’t have access

 

 

 

In another study, we see that 11%  of the people will pay for broadband at $R100

 

 

 

This is important because it means there are 99,000 people in this area willing to pay R$100 for the service.

 

 

 

Doing some simple math, you can see why we are so excited about this business model.

 

 

 

If we can get just 1 / 10th of this market….that will be R$1 million  in revenues per month

 

 

 

Every month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Info

 

 

 

please look at our financial stantements that will outline all of our operational costs

 

 

 

Just to give you an idea, we are looking at net income of about $6 million USD per year

 

 

 

More details of our financial statements can be found with the business plan

 

 

 

One of the key clients that we are after are the hotel visitors.   Imagine if the wi-fi service would work not only in the hotel lobby, but also at your office, and at the local conference center.

 

 

 

We are budgeting $30,000 for the first year in advertising to build up our client base quickly.

 

 

 

Because we know that all of our clients live along the beach, we feel that outdoor advertising, perhaps sponsoring a local volley ball or soccer tournament ….

 

 

 

Also, we are considering radio and local tv ads

 

 

 

And viral intenet marketing campaigns

 

 

 

One of the things that I like most about this business model is that there is a natural monopoly.

 

 

 

Only one company can have access to the light posts in the city.   Only one company can have this network in place.

 

 

 

That’s why you see companies fighting soooo hard in the US to get their equipment into place.  

 

 

 

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