Recap: WISPAPALOOZA 2017

Another Record-Setting Show
By Dale Curtis Communications

This years event was the associations largest ever, with more than 1,800 attendees from 51 U.S. states and territories and 31 countries. The event also boasted 36 sponsors and 129 exhibitors showcasing wireless and tower technology, software, cloud services, VoIP solutions, consulting, mapping services and more. 

On Fiber Friday, fiber equipment manufacturers and consultants offered educational sessions to nearly 300 operators who are now or soon deploying fiber to the home (FTTH) in addition to wireless services. Other certification and training sessions were offered before and after the show.

Industry awards were presented to Cambium Networks for Manufacturer of the Year, Product of the Year, and Service of the Year; Prairie Hills Wireless for Operator of the Year; Streakwave for Distributor of the Year; and Tower Coverage for Service of the Year. GTEK Wireless was honored with the Triumph Award for overcoming adversity; Nathan Stooke of Wisper ISP was Volunteer of the Year; and Alex Phillips of Rural Broadband Network Services received the Visionary Award.

Recipients of WISPA's President's Award included: Alex Phillips, Elizabeth Bowles, Gary Helmers, Jeff Kohler, Jimmy Carr, Keefe John, Mark Radabaugh, Matt Larsen, Richard Bernhardt, Steve Coran, Tasos Alexiou, Tom Innes, and Trina Coffey.

This years Diamond Sponsors were Baicells; ConVergence; PowerCode; Telrad; Ubiquiti Networks; and Visp.net. The Platinum Sponsors were Baltic Networks USA; Bicom Systems; Cambium Networks; Radwin; RF Elements; Rackspace Email; Ritalia Funding; SAF; Streakwave; and Winncomm Technologies. The Gold Sponsors were American Tower; DoubleRadius; NetSapiens; Saisei; and Subcarrier Communications. The Silver Sponsors were Alliance Corp.; EUPEN Cable USA; Grandstream; IgniteNet; Lerman Senter; mbsiWAV; Tycon Systems; ViaSat; WAV; and ZTE.