January 12, 2007—In the last several weeks, EarthLink launched a municipal wireless network for both the City of New Orleans and the City of Milpitas, and reached an agreement with the City of San Francisco to build a citywide wireless network there.
According to EarthLink, a wireless network ensures universal, affordable wireless broadband access for all city residents, visitors, businesses, and city employees; improves the efficiency of the city’s government; stimulates private investment into developing tools and applications to take advantage of wireless technology; and provides more consumer choice and competition for broadband services than currently exist in the marketplace.
In New Orleans, LA, the approximately 20-square mile Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) mesh network covers parts of the Orleans parish. EarthLink says it is supporting the city’s rebuilding efforts by providing a free tier of service available up to 300Kbps for residents and businesses in New Orleans throughout the coverage area. Wi-Fi reportedly enabled communication during Hurricane Katrina when other means failed, and the city plans to use the technology to help jumpstart its recovery and enable all of its citizens to return.
In Milpitas, CA, EarthLink made available 30 consecutive days of free service for all residents of and visitors to the city, so they can test and use the Wi-Fi services throughout the approximately 10-square mile Wi-Fi mesh network in the heart of the Silicon Valley. The network will also serve as a platform for city, business, and wholesale partners to access EarthLink’s municipal network for their employees and end-users.
For more information about EarthLink’s Wi-Fi or Municipal Networks, visit the company’s Web site.
