Seoul’s KT Corporation and SK Telecom are now both operating WiBro networks, a Korean version of the 802.16e mobile subsection of the WiMax standard. Korea’s capital city was already wired via public hotspots, but mobile WiMax is offering more by providing wireless data speeds of several mbps plus a range that exceeds 1km. WiBro’s only… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Municipal
Paris Wants Wireless Internet Access Across City
Paris is aiming to become the world’s most connected capital city with its plan to have citywide wireless Internet coverage by the end of next year. Under the project, the city will put up 400 free WiFi access points that will beam to the antennae set up by Internet service providers. The city expects to… Continue Reading
Baltimore Proposes ‘Inclusive’ Wi-Fi Plan
Baltimore followed in the footsteps of cities across the US when it announced its plan to create an inexpensive citywide Wi-Fi access network. But Baltimore is approaching its network in an unusual way by focusing on the network’s users rather than the network’s technology. The city wants “digital inclusion” — a way to include segments… Continue Reading
An Eye For Muni Wi-Fi
Front Porch, a messaging solutions provider, has created PorchLight, a TCP/IP appliance that manages a network’s content insertion while users are browsing the Internet. Alerts and paid advertising such as payment-due notices and credit card renewal messages show up as pop-ups or redirections, grabbing the attention of users in a way that e-mail just can’t… Continue Reading
Taipei’s Citywide Wi-Fi Passes Test
Taipei could be the first city to deploy a city-wide Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi hotspot directory JiWire Inc. has dispatched a team to test the network, which supports 4,000 hotspots that could service 90 percent of the city’s population numbering 2.8 million. People can gain access to the network by subscribing to Q-ware Systems, Inc. and… Continue Reading
Municipal WiFi Networks May Provide Broadband To Millions
Municipal wireless broadband networks may be offering their citizens free or inexpensive Internet access, but they aren’t expected to win over the broadband market. While citywide networks may be better than dial-up, they might not match the speed and quality of only slightly more expensive DSL. Telecom and cable companies still have an edge, and… Continue Reading
Is Municipal Wi-Fi A Right? If So, Who Pays?
For many cities, a municipal wireless network is no longer just a someday proposition — in fact, Wi-Fi access is either already in place or in the planning stages for cities across the US. The new question to ask is “who.” Who will have access to “free citywide access?” Updating wireless networks to reach all… Continue Reading
Google Details Mountain View Wi-Fi Service
Google has no plan to profit from the the free Wi-Fi service that it is providing to Mountain View, California, the city where it is based. “The reason it is free is because…we want to get a lot of people on it,” Google’s Larry Alder said at the Supernova 2006 conference in San Francisco. Though… Continue Reading
Citywide Wi-Fi Struggles For Acceptance
With city-wide WiFi networks popping up all over the US, it’s no surprise that some cities are experiencing growing pains. One city was abandoned by its operator, technical problems plague another, and governmental red tape is slowing down wireless access in several others. Fans of the delays say waiting gives cities a chance for updated… Continue Reading
S.J. To Expand WiFi Hotspots Downtown
Mountain View-based MetroFi won a contract bid with San Jose to expand the city’s hotspots along thoroughfares and in downtown parks. The winning proposal provides free Internet access to residents at zero cost to the city and boasts download speeds of about 1 megabit per second. MetroFi will generate revenue by selling network advertising and… Continue Reading
Sacramento Wi-Fi Deployment Hits A Wall
The dream of municipal WiFi always seems to have one problem; how do you pay for it. Google and Earthlink seem to think that in San Francisco, they can support it through advertising. However in Sacramento, Mobilepro, the company that brought wireless to Tempe, Arizona, seems to think they can’t. The trouble seems to stem… Continue Reading
Google Forging Ahead With Wi-Fi Efforts
Google will provide free wireless Internet access service to its hometown of Mountain View, Calif. in a phased rollout that begins this summer. Volunteers providing feedback for the project can sign up for Wi-Fi this summer, with public service coming available later this year. Meanwhile, Google is working with Earthlink to blanket San Francisco with… Continue Reading
Chicago Wireless Plan Advances
Chicago plans to spend $18.5 million to blanket the city in Wi-Fi so its citizens can easily access and afford the Internet. Approximately 7,500 antennas will be needed to create the wireless network, with access points mounted on top of city-owned streetlights and lamp poles as well as privately-owned sites. The city is looking for… Continue Reading
Manhattan’s Almost Ubiquitous Wi-Fi
Manhattan is being blanketed in overlapping hotzones by Telkonet, a Maryland-based ISP, in conjunction with Microwave Satellite Technologies (MST) and its NuVisions trademark. Together they provide Wi-Fi along with voice, video and data services by connecting Gigabit Ethernet to building powerlines then adding high-power access points. By servicing off private property, Telkonet doesn’t require access… Continue Reading
Wi-Fi Lessons Learned In Tempe
To date, no city has managed to make money with a municipal wireless network — but that hasn’t stopped new cities from trying. Those who started early are making the mistakes first, which is something those who follow can benefit from, but proponents insist Wi-Fi will ultimately gain in popularity. Current troubles for citywide networks… Continue Reading