Business model for municipal broadband

Muniwireless reports on an example of a business model for delivering municipal broadband in Sweden.

The Västerås model - Mälarenergi Stadsnät - connects properties and service providers to the urban network. The users in companies, organisations and private households are, in turn, linked to the urban network via their landlord's property net. Tenants' associations and housing associations can also build property nets and hook themselves up.

Once the property is connected, the companies, organisations and households are free to link up. This usually takes place with the user paying a fixed monthly fee for the use of the network via the service provider(s) chosen. The Västerås model is an organisational concept that helps provide structure and facilitates sales, contract-signing, start ups and contact with the service supplier.