But isn't it also true that once his network grows above a certain customer base (and gets into the maintenance phase), he will start to see all the effects that eat into being able to do this cheaply?
Namely:
-- customers who don't behave as well or kindly as before
-- customers who need 24 hour customer service
-- maintenance that can't be done himself, and he has to employ people
-- customers and vendors who sue you for breach of contract, or other simply nuisance lawsuits
-- upgrading the network to the next technology requirement, or when he's unable to get 2nd-hand parts so cheaply, etc.
-- or a natural disaster that unexpectedly forces replacement of (and charging for) equipment that wasn't anticipated in the original subscriber price
Maybe none of this rises to the level of making it fundamentally different or unsustainable? But it seems to me the honeymoon phase doesn't last long, and it's got to hit some unavoidable realities soon. At least, if you think you can replicate this, it requires finding people and neighbors who are willing to do actual work and investment/concern to make something like this possible, and not simply pay a vendor a premium to phone it in. It must be treated like a neighbor-to-neighbor community project, not a faceless commercial transaction with its attendant obligations.