WISPA21_Daily_3

WWW. WISPA .ORG 1 www.bekabusinessmedia.com D uring the past several years, particu- larly in the days before COVID-19 put a damper on just about everything, WISPA- PALOOZA was experiencing meteoric growth. Between 2016 and 2019, for instance, the number of exhibitors on the show floor grew from 122 to more than 200. Attendance ballooned from about 1,650 in 2016 to 2,400 in 2019. As WISPA’s flagship trade show returns to Las Vegas in 2021, after its cancellation in 2020, maintaining the growth rate WISPA- PALOOZA experienced up through 2019 would be a lot to expect. Even so, WISPAPALOOZA returns with an incredibly strong showing and a familiar optimism, hosting more than 140 exhibitors, more than 165 speakers and more than 1,700 attendees (including even a WISP from Rhode Island). “This WISPAPALOOZA is a celebration on a number of levels,” said Claude Aiken, president and CEO of WISPA. “Our community hasn’t gotten together at this scale for two years, and we’re just excited as heck to get back and see old friends.” What’s more, attendees of WISPAPALOOZA 2021 have witnessed first-hand how the WISP community is adapting and evolving in terms of both technology and business models. Indeed, since WISPAPALOOZA last convened in 2019, many WISPs now have licensed spectrum, via, among other manners, the CBRS auction completed last year. And while fixed wireless access has been the industry’s predominate delivery technology, today the majority of WISPs now employ other transmission modes, such as fiber to the home and business. Finally, more and more WISPs are competing for and using public funding to grow their networks. “Our community-based providers use an all- the-above toolbox, so all Americans get compet- itive, innovative and affordable internet access in their communities,” stated Aiken. “Look at the WISPAPALOOZA exhibition floor and educa- tion panels and you’ll see the amazing diversity, Behind the Numbers of WISPAPALOOZA 2021 (Continued on page 4) L Z OO 2021 3 WISPAPALOOZA By the Numbers 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 Sponsors 23 36 43 34 28 Exhibitors 122 129 163 201 143 Speakers 128 131 146 183+ 165+ Sessions 66 91 97 97 77 Attendees 1,658 1,889 2,137 2,400 1,700+