WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) New Business

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 100 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification

Forums › Startups › WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) New Business

makmak

40 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#233652 26-Apr-2018 12:55

Kia Ora Geekzone family,

I am an entrepreneur and have been self employed passed 9 months doing, MLM (Multi Level Marketing), eCommerce, Web Design & Development, Making Business Cards and really what ever that comes. All self taught using the internet and help from people I know.

I have been planning and pondering starting a WISP.

I am needing helping understanding things I need to research and learn about, and obstacles I will face ahead of me.

Currently looking into a business internet UFB plan that will allow me on on-sell internet.
I have researched equipment required to run the service Radio Beams (Going to be using Ubiquiti Products) - Supplier sorted for this.
Learning about Switches
Creating a server to host my own websites
Best Modems to use and affordability
Also options to offer Fast Internet to Rural locations. AKA I have 2 family homes up north in the Bush.
This was a funny one, how does internet cafe have so many computers which all get a really good download speed.

I know there is so much work in involved and so much learning. But I am excited for the challenge.

This business ideal will eventually develop into my own internet cafe that also offers cheap healthy food. As I love cooking as well.

Your advice and feedback is most welcomed.

(I have and currently working on an in-depth Business Plan as I love to plan, and plan to succeed)

1 | 2

1396 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 974

ID Verified

Trusted

#2002771 26-Apr-2018 13:00

This isn't what you want to hear but from what you've posted I don't think you should be trying to start an ISP IMO.

Until you're big enough to hire network engineers you will have to be able to configure & support the network yourself which you don't seem to be able to do seeing as you're asking about learning about switches.

<#
.DISCLAIMER
Anything I post is my own and not the views of my past/present/future employer.
#>

makmak

40 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2002775 26-Apr-2018 13:07

No, this is exactly what I need to hear. Thank you.

I'm all about being straight up. If needed I can employ engineers or specific specialty people when and if required. So thanks.

I'm that type of person that will eventually learn myself, then pay others to do it.

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

Linux

12182 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8476

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2002777 26-Apr-2018 13:07

Do not open an internet cafe! It will not make you money and it will not last people have smart phones these days

Linux

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2002780 26-Apr-2018 13:11

The first question I'd ask anything who thinks starting an RSP is a great idea is to ask how much money they've got to lose.

If you're happy with those losses then the next step should be to check what your obligations are around things such as TICSA compliance and copyright which you may want to seek legal advice on.

makmak

40 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2002784 26-Apr-2018 13:16

Thankyou for the reply.

Reasons for an internet cafe is because I do computer repairs from home. I make flyers, wedding invitations, programs and different types of printing from home....

I'm also have plans to add a commercial kitchen in this internet cafe. I have done alot of catering jobs, catering upto 1000 people.

I have yet to go to a clean, comfortable internet cafe that i like.

Gaming is huge now days. And plan to appeal to this market. Having 2 dedicated rooms for gaming. And competitions ect.

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

trig42

5889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2094

ID Verified

#2002790 26-Apr-2018 13:30

I had an Internet Cafe. Opened it in 2003.

It did really well, we were the first in our town to be hooked up to DSL (ADSL, about 8mbps download). We had 10 PCs to start with. We squeezed another 3 in after about 6 months, and after about a year upgraded them with decent graphics cards (started with a very basic GeForce if I recall).

We sold and serviced PCs, and that did pretty well as well. The Internet Cafe (especially CounterStrike) made us about $400 cash a day (including sales of Fizzy and chips and chocolate). The Serviceing and PC sales about double that.

It was a good business for the nearly three years I had it. Sold it in late 2005 and it was closed a year after that - smartphones and WiFi knocked it off. Everyone by this stage had broadband at home, and Public WiFi was becoming mainstream, as were cheap laptops and phones you could browse the internet on.

Like Video Stores, Internet Cafes were a good idea then that no longer is now.

As for a WISP, I think the margins are so low, and the potential problems so high, that a small WISP without any economies of scale will be tough. The engineering just to set it up will never be recouped with a tiny number of clients. Maybe try just setting something up to share a connection with a couple of friends or something to see what sort of issues you might have before charging anyone who will expect a competent and professional service.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

premiumtouring

357 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 143

#2002792 26-Apr-2018 13:32

makmak: Thankyou for the reply.

Reasons for an internet cafe is because I do computer repairs from home. I make flyers, wedding invitations, programs and different types of printing from home....

I'm also have plans to add a commercial kitchen in this internet cafe. I have done alot of catering jobs, catering upto 1000 people.

I have yet to go to a clean, comfortable internet cafe that i like.

Gaming is huge now days. And plan to appeal to this market. Having 2 dedicated rooms for gaming. And competitions ect.

I think you should research Red vs Blue. The concept has been done before on K'Road in Auckland. It looked very promising initially, but essentially failed to turn a profit thus closing.

Your desire to build a commercial kitchen to do catering has significantly more potential than the other ideas you've mentioned.

https://www.gpforums.co.nz/threads/293129-NZ-s-premier-gaming-lounge-set-to-open!!!-Come-check-it-out!!!

makmak

40 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2002793 26-Apr-2018 13:34

sbiddle:
The first question I'd ask anything who thinks starting an RSP is a great idea is to ask how much money they've got to lose.

If you're happy with those losses then the next step should be to check what your obligations are around things such as TICSA compliance and copyright which you may want to seek legal advice on.

Well as an entrepreneur it's all about that risk. A risk I have thought about and committed to make. Thanks for the question.

I have a start budget of 15k. Which is a safe zone. And a further 10k funding pre approved pending a detailed business plan

I'm grateful I made good friends with some great lawers who i attended law school with. (I dropped out after first year).

I will hit them up re TISCA compliance and copyright. Thankyou

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

techrebel

14 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2002799 26-Apr-2018 13:44

Hi,

I could probably help you. I started a WISP 2 years ago and failed miserably.

If you are in Auckland we could probably have a meeting. Would love to hear more about your plans.

Cheers!

nickb800

2735 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 829

Trusted

#2002811 26-Apr-2018 14:14

Can't see an internet cafe as a way to make money, except in extreme examples (e.g. middle of queenstown servicing tourists and transient workers). Don't think there's much demand for gaming rooms now that everyone has broadband at home and can Teamspeak their friends. If you want to do a cafe/catering then do that (although note that it's a hard way to make money and easy way too loose it too)

Regarding the WISP idea, are you looking to service an urban area or rural? Quite different proposition - urban you need to come in cheaper than fixed line, rural more about provider faster connection/more capacity than fixed line. Wireless broadband from Spark/Vodafone has taken some of both off both markets e.g. 4g home broadband for low users in urban areas, and RBI for rural.

I'd suggest starting a micro business serving your neighbours to slowly scale up and learn the networking side of things - e.g. get gigabit fibre at home, figure out which neighbours you can service with P2P wireless or cable (if they share a fence) and go door knocking with an offer they can't refuse e.g. $50 per month for unlimited. Unlimited means that you don't need a billing system. Yes this is a rough way to go about it, but treat it as a learning opportunity that might make you a bit of pocket money, and expand from there.

makmak

40 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2002852 26-Apr-2018 15:32

trig42:

I had an Internet Cafe. Opened it in 2003.

It did really well, we were the first in our town to be hooked up to DSL (ADSL, about 8mbps download). We had 10 PCs to start with. We squeezed another 3 in after about 6 months, and after about a year upgraded them with decent graphics cards (started with a very basic GeForce if I recall).

We sold and serviced PCs, and that did pretty well as well. The Internet Cafe (especially CounterStrike) made us about $400 cash a day (including sales of Fizzy and chips and chocolate). The Serviceing and PC sales about double that.

It was a good business for the nearly three years I had it. Sold it in late 2005 and it was closed a year after that - smartphones and WiFi knocked it off. Everyone by this stage had broadband at home, and Public WiFi was becoming mainstream, as were cheap laptops and phones you could browse the internet on.

Like Video Stores, Internet Cafes were a good idea then that no longer is now.

As for a WISP, I think the margins are so low, and the potential problems so high, that a small WISP without any economies of scale will be tough. The engineering just to set it up will never be recouped with a tiny number of clients. Maybe try just setting something up to share a connection with a couple of friends or something to see what sort of issues you might have before charging anyone who will expect a competent and professional service.

I see where you come from, Like in with the new and out with the old. And internet cafe's come under the old so to speak now. Thanks for your comments.

And yes with Regards to a WISP. I do plan on starting simple, I already have about 15 differently clients who are interested, and that's just people around my area without even going door to door. Start small, learn, then grow a little. My plans are to be cheaper than your normal $100 p/w unlimited internet service that most ISP charge currently. And going cheaper every year after as their payments keep coming and cost are recouped.

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

makmak

40 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2002865 26-Apr-2018 15:46

nickb800:

Can't see an internet cafe as a way to make money, except in extreme examples (e.g. middle of queenstown servicing tourists and transient workers). Don't think there's much demand for gaming rooms now that everyone has broadband at home and can Teamspeak their friends. If you want to do a cafe/catering then do that (although note that it's a hard way to make money and easy way too loose it too)

Regarding the WISP idea, are you looking to service an urban area or rural? Quite different proposition - urban you need to come in cheaper than fixed line, rural more about provider faster connection/more capacity than fixed line. Wireless broadband from Spark/Vodafone has taken some of both off both markets e.g. 4g home broadband for low users in urban areas, and RBI for rural.

I'd suggest starting a micro business serving your neighbours to slowly scale up and learn the networking side of things - e.g. get gigabit fibre at home, figure out which neighbours you can service with P2P wireless or cable (if they share a fence) and go door knocking with an offer they can't refuse e.g. $50 per month for unlimited. Unlimited means that you don't need a billing system. Yes this is a rough way to go about it, but treat it as a learning opportunity that might make you a bit of pocket money, and expand from there.

Thanks for your remarks @nickb800,

there are so many times the bro's want to get together and game but no where to really get that done. Yeah Teamspeak works and we still use that here and there. And catering makes so much money already in my line of work. The difficulty is getting a commercial kitchen that don't cost an arm and a leg.

I love your suggestion regarding WISP, which is exactly what I was thinking to start off with.

I already have about 15 clients I know personally that are keen, and thats without going door to door to offer the service. And those are homes near to mine. Giving them unlimited, and different download speeds depending on situation. (Large Household, elderly that limited internet, but still require, Gamers ect).

I am also looking at doing a small Rural Connection out to our Family home, and surrounding neighbours. The prices RBI offer are crazy. And they still don't reach to my families home. I'm in the process of buying a drone to survey the landscape in preparation of putting up a Ubiquiti PowerBean AC dish. And providing Fast Internet Speeds. This is also trial and error. And service there to not really make money but to cover cost.

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

Linux

12182 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8476

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2002869 26-Apr-2018 15:48

You can easily make a million dollars on your WISP just start with 5 million dollars

Linux

makmak

40 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2002876 26-Apr-2018 15:52

techrebel:

Hi,

I could probably help you. I started a WISP 2 years ago and failed miserably.

If you are in Auckland we could probably have a meeting. Would love to hear more about your plans.

Cheers!

Hi @techrebel, will send you a PM now.

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

makmak

40 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2002898 26-Apr-2018 16:11

Linux:
You can easily make a million dollars on your WISP just start with 5 million dollars

Linux

Thanks @linux

I was looking more at used 15K to create a business. That interest me and is fun. I get to learn alot. Is challenging. Hopefullh recoup the investment. And be able to reinvest.

To ensure i keep working for myself. And don't fall slave to the many corperations like others do.

Kind Regards Kia Tu - Kia Oho - Kia Mataara

1 | 2