“We don't believe in fixed wireless as a viable technology in the developing world,” Giancarlo said of WiMAX (Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access), which was ratified as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers's 802.16 set of standards.

Giancarlo said because WiMAX operates in licensed spectrum, wireless operators need to agree it is a viable technology. Another concern is the plethora of wide-area wireless technologies already available. “There's a chicken and egg (problem) there,” he said. “It's just another wireless technology. That's not enough to allow Cisco to enter and be successful in that market.”

A Canadian analyst who attended the conference said Cisco officials are smart for taking a cautious approach to the WiMAX market.

“I agree with their point that there's going to be more network diversity on the wireless side rather than less in the next few years,” said Tony Olvet, vice president of IDC Canada's communications practice. “To make a big bet on any single one might be a bit risky, so it behooves them to stay neutral in terms of the various technologies -- WiMAX and what have you.” Although Cisco is not making WiMAX equipment, it is partnering with other vendors in developing technologies using WiMAX as a backhaul, rather than as an access technology, Giancarlo said.

For example, he said, the company is working on interfaces to wireless radios so users can run Internet Protocol-based applications over WiMAX networks. Cisco has also joined forces with IBM Corp. to provide a wide-area wireless network to the county of San Mateo in California, which will initially be based on Wi-Fi but will use WiMAX as a backhaul technology.

Many businesses in the Silicon Valley region do not have access to inexpensive high-speed Internet services, said Brian Moura, assistant city manager of San Carlos CA, who spoke on a panel on IP Mobility at CScape.

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