Vivint Wireless
Launched in 2014, Vivint Wireless was the second major endeavor of parent company Vivint SmartHome (VVNT), following the successful buildout and spinoff of their solar program. Offering fixed wireless broadband service to single family homes, the company’s aim was to disrupt the residential internet duopoly by competing with traditional wired providers’ performance but improving the poor pricing practices and customer service that surrounds the industry.
Vivint’s approach to solving what’s known as the “the last mile”, or the last stretch of delivering high-speed broadband to single family home neighborhoods, was to use a hub and spoke model of wireless radios. This started with contracting a handful of centralized, tall homes in each neighborhood become the micro tower or “hub home”. Compensated with free internet service to serve as network infrastructure, these houses were equipped with a wireless backhaul and two 5GHz, roof-mounted radios. Geography permitting, these micro-hub homes were capable of dispersing symmetrical upload and download speeds of over 100 mbps within a 900 ft radius.
Vivint offered 100, 50 and 25 Mbps plans ranging from $39-$55 dollars a month. To compete with the cable incumbents, a $15/month VoIP voice service and Vivint SmartHome’s security system were also offered as package subscriptions, DIRECTV was declared the preferred TV provider and Vivint partnered with local AT&T service providers to process and fulfill orders.
With HQ based in Provo, UT, Vivint Wireless’ footprint quickly expanded during its first 6 months in business. The network grew across the Salt Lake Valley and in regions of Southern Utah. Almost simultaneously, Vivint launched service in El Paso. By fall of 2014 Vivint had opened San Antonio for sales and established infrastructure and pre-sales in both Dallas and Albuquerque.
Shortly after the market launches of Dallas and Albuquerque, Vivint suspended all customers sales indefinitely to restructure program for profitability and longevity. During the 10 operating months of 2014, Ultra Networks contributed over 1,000 new subscriber adds, approximately 200 satellite installations, and contracted its services for general recruitment and sales management.
