Greenfield project
Encyclopedia
In many disciplines a greenfield is a project that lacks any constraints imposed by prior work. The analogy is to that of construction on greenfield land where there is no need to remodel or demolish an existing structure. Such projects are often coveted by engineers.
jargon
, a greenfield is a project which lacks any constraints imposed by prior networks. The first cellular telephone networks were built primarily on tall existing tower structures or on high ground in an effort to cover as much territory as possible, quickly, and with a minimum number of base stations. They were developed with no regard for future capacity considerations or Frequency reuse. These early wireless telephone network designs were later augmented with additional base stations and antennas to handle the growing demand for additional voice traffic and higher network capacity. As wireless networks quickly evolved it was evident that the earlier designs forced inefficient constraints on the growth of the network. As governments made more radio spectrum
available for licensed wireless telephone operators in the late 1980s whole new networks popped up that surpassed the performance of legacy networks having the benefit of starting their designs fresh and without the constraints of existing systems. They were termed "greenfield networks" or "greenfield projects". Today any new network designed from scratch to enable new Radio Access Network technologies (i.e. 3G, 4G, Wi-MAX, etc..) are also referred to as greenfield projects.
networks have an optional greenfield mode that improves efficiency by eliminating support for 802.11a/b/g devices.
Greenfield Investing is usually offered as an alternative to another form of investment, such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, or licensing agreements. Greenfield Investing is often mentioned in the context of Foreign Direct Investment
A related term to Greenfield Investment which is becoming popular is Brownfield Investment, where a site previously used for a "dirty" business purpose, such as a steel mill or oil refinery, is cleaned up and used for a less polluting purpose, such as commercial office space or a residential area.
A form of foreign direct investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up. In addition to building new facilities, most parent companies also create new long-term jobs in the foreign country by hiring new employees.
Developing countries often offer prospective companies tax-breaks, subsidies and other types of incentives to set up green field investments. Governments often see that losing corporate tax revenue is a small price to pay if jobs are created and knowledge and technology is gained to boost the country's human capital.
. Those facilities which are modified/upgraded are called Brownfield
projects (often the pre-existing site/facilities are contaminated/polluted.)
In transportation industries (e.g. automotive, aircraft, engines) the equivalent concept is called "clean sheet design".
Greenfield also has meaning in sales. A greenfield opportunity refers to a marketplace that is completely untapped and free for the taking.
Cellular networks
In wireless engineeringWireless engineering
Wireless Engineering is the branch of engineering which addresses the design, application, and research of wireless communication systems and technologies.-Overview:...
jargon
Jargon
Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event. The philosophe Condillac observed in 1782 that "Every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas." As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment he...
, a greenfield is a project which lacks any constraints imposed by prior networks. The first cellular telephone networks were built primarily on tall existing tower structures or on high ground in an effort to cover as much territory as possible, quickly, and with a minimum number of base stations. They were developed with no regard for future capacity considerations or Frequency reuse. These early wireless telephone network designs were later augmented with additional base stations and antennas to handle the growing demand for additional voice traffic and higher network capacity. As wireless networks quickly evolved it was evident that the earlier designs forced inefficient constraints on the growth of the network. As governments made more radio spectrum
Radio spectrum
Radio spectrum refers to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum corresponding to radio frequencies – that is, frequencies lower than around 300 GHz ....
available for licensed wireless telephone operators in the late 1980s whole new networks popped up that surpassed the performance of legacy networks having the benefit of starting their designs fresh and without the constraints of existing systems. They were termed "greenfield networks" or "greenfield projects". Today any new network designed from scratch to enable new Radio Access Network technologies (i.e. 3G, 4G, Wi-MAX, etc..) are also referred to as greenfield projects.
Computer networking
Greenfield carries a similar meaning with modern wireless LAN networks. 802.11n Wi-FiWi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
networks have an optional greenfield mode that improves efficiency by eliminating support for 802.11a/b/g devices.
Greenfield investment
A Greenfield Investment is the investment in a manufacturing, office, or other physical company-related structure or group of structures in an area where no previous facilities exist. http://glossary.reuters.com/index.php/Greenfield_Investment http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Green+Field+Investment The name comes from the idea of building a facility literally on a "green" field, such as farmland or a forest. Over time the term has become more metaphoric.Greenfield Investing is usually offered as an alternative to another form of investment, such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, or licensing agreements. Greenfield Investing is often mentioned in the context of Foreign Direct Investment
Foreign direct investment
Foreign direct investment or foreign investment refers to the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor.. It is the sum of equity capital,other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in...
A related term to Greenfield Investment which is becoming popular is Brownfield Investment, where a site previously used for a "dirty" business purpose, such as a steel mill or oil refinery, is cleaned up and used for a less polluting purpose, such as commercial office space or a residential area.
A form of foreign direct investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up. In addition to building new facilities, most parent companies also create new long-term jobs in the foreign country by hiring new employees.
Developing countries often offer prospective companies tax-breaks, subsidies and other types of incentives to set up green field investments. Governments often see that losing corporate tax revenue is a small price to pay if jobs are created and knowledge and technology is gained to boost the country's human capital.
Other uses
Examples of greenfield projects are new factories, power plants, airports which are built from scratch on greenfield landGreenfield land
Greenfield land is a term used to describe undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to naturally evolve...
. Those facilities which are modified/upgraded are called Brownfield
Brownfield (software development)
Brownfield development is a term commonly used in the IT industry to describe problem spaces needing the development and deployment of new software systems in the immediate presence of existing software applications/systems. This implies that any new software architecture must take into account...
projects (often the pre-existing site/facilities are contaminated/polluted.)
In transportation industries (e.g. automotive, aircraft, engines) the equivalent concept is called "clean sheet design".
Greenfield also has meaning in sales. A greenfield opportunity refers to a marketplace that is completely untapped and free for the taking.
See also
- Brownfield
- Greenfield landGreenfield landGreenfield land is a term used to describe undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to naturally evolve...
- Greenfield agreementGreenfield agreementA Greenfield agreement is an agreement between a union and a new employer, that doesn't yet have employees. .This has a number of benefits for the employer. A key advantage is that a greenfield agreement does not require the approval of any employees whose employment would be subject to the...
- Greyfield landGreyfield landGreyfield land is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe economically obsolescent, outdated, failing, moribund and/or underused real estate assets or land. The term was coined in the early 2000s as a way to describe the sea of empty asphalt that often accompanied these sites...