I never thought I would say this again, but things are starting to get exciting in the broadband wireless space. A host of new launches in major markets have come out in recent weeks, but unlike the new deployments of recent years, wireless ISPs aren't just filling in pockets of empty spectrum. They're actively competing against their fellow WISPs.

Today, NextWeb announced it was launching service in Las Vegas just a week after voice and data provider Mpower announced its first BWA launch in that same city. NextWeb has its own challengers to deal with, though, as East Coast-based ISP TowerStream rolled out service in the West Coast provider's home turf of San Francisco. It's like the hip hop wars, except instead of fighting through microphone they're using, er, microwaves.

Smarter men than me can wax philosophical about the beauty of competition and so forth. I'm just going to say it's nice to see a little life and a little fight in the broadband wireless world after the four years of desolation brought on by the failures of companies like Teligent and Winstar. Who knows? Maybe even this McCaw Clearwire thing will get off the ground.

Contact me at kfitchard@primediabusiness.com.