SWOT Analysis: Cisco Systems Municipal Wireless Networking, Q4 2007

Cisco Systems, the market leader for enterprise networking, including wireless LAN (WLAN) infrastructure, is making inroads into the municipal wireless networking market. The vendor has already deployed metro-scale wireless networks across the US in cities like Austin, Texas, and Sacramento, California. While Cisco's broad networking portfolio allows it to offer customers an end-to-end technology solution, the vendor must focus its technology and services more directly on the specific needs of the municipal wireless networking market. Cisco was late to the party with a product offering, but it has a compelling differentiation point as the worlds' leader of enterprise WLAN gear and the potential ability to tie inside and outside networks together. Cisco will go head-to-head with Motorola to build networks for government use, but the vendor will face competition from its smaller, more nimble competitors like BelAir Networks.