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Mobile & Wireless
AT&T And City Of Napa, CA Ink Wi-Fi Agreement
Wireless Network To Provide Broadband Access For All
by Telecommunications Magazine Staff
The city of Napa this week approved an agreement with AT&T for an approximately
12-square- mile deployment of AT&T Metro Wi-Fi, the company's wireless
broadband Internet access network solution.
"This city Wi-Fi network will increase broadband Internet choices
within the city and provide new dimensions of mobility for broadband users
in Napa," said Commander Jeff Troendly. "Once implemented, this system will
continue to place Napa among the technology-leading cities of the nation.
This exciting project will enhance quality of life for residents,
businesses, and visitors."
The planned Wi-Fi network will add publicly accessible wireless
broadband capabilities to the extensive, advanced AT&T communications
network in Napa, enabling residents, visitors, city employees and
businesses to tap into the unsurpassed AT&T network from virtually all
developed areas within the city. Users will be able to choose from a
variety of connectivity options, including a free, advertising-supported
access choice or higher-speed access tiers offered by AT&T.
In addition, the city of Napa will use a parallel AT&T Metro Wi-Fi
system supporting municipal and public-safety communications needs. After
testing this system across a two-square-mile area, Napa will use the
network to support municipal services. This parallel system will run over a
separate 4.9 GHz frequency to enhance communications for city police, fire
and public works employees. Possible uses of this Network include streaming
video in police vehicles, remote meter reading, data transmissions of
patient records from ambulances rushing to hospitals and temporary or
remote emergency operations centers. Other applications include benefits
such as crime prevention and cost efficiencies.
Construction of the network is expected to begin in the coming weeks,
with the first phase of the wireless network expected to be completed
during summer 2007, covering two square miles of the city. The network will
then be expanded into additional areas of the city throughout 2007 and
early 2008.
The agreement is the third planned deployment of AT&T Metro Wi-Fi
service to date, following a contract approved by the city of St. Louis
last week. Additionally, the company has begun deployment of a city Wi-Fi
broadband Internet access network in Riverside, Calif.
AT&T is a leading provider of Wi-Fi services today, offering customers
access to more than 47,500 hot spots across the globe. The company
currently is pursuing municipal Wi-Fi in a select number of locations,
based on criteria such as geography, population, and tourist activity.
"With our strength in wireless and our extensive and secure IP network,
AT&T is fully committed to delivering new innovations to spread the
benefits of broadband and mobility solutions as widely as possible," said
Susan Johnson, senior vice president-AT&T Business Development. "With its
diverse, tech-savvy population and significant tourism base, Napa is an
ideal city for deployment of Wi-Fi. AT&T is uniquely positioned to deliver
the benefits of wireless broadband to Napa, and we are very excited to work
with the city to deliver an unprecedented level of broadband portability to
residents, businesses, and visitors."
The agreement calls for AT&T to deploy Wi-Fi equipment on city light
poles and fixtures throughout the coverage area. AT&T will maintain the
network and all related equipment, as well as handle all customer service
operations. Wi-Fi connections will feed into the same AT&T backbone network
infrastructure that delivers a full range of broadband and business
services.
The wireless broadband extension of AT&T's network enables widespread
broadband access with minimal direct investment for the city and with no
concerns related to ongoing system management or customer support. AT&T
will support the network via advertising, Wi-Fi subscriptions as well as
delivery of business services via the wireless network.
The Wi-Fi broadband network brings the potential to benefit the city in
a number of ways, from attracting and retaining businesses to promoting
tourism. Additionally, the Wi-Fi network will provide a new mobile access
option for all areas of the community.
A range of ad-free, paid subscription options, including day passes and
monthly subscriptions, will be available with speeds of up to 1 Megabit per
second (Mbps). Current AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet customers will have
access for special offers to access the Wi-Fi network while they are away
from the home or office. Additionally, users will be able to access a free,
ad- supported broadband option at 200 Kilobits per second for up to 10
hours per month. Final details on the service packages and pricing will be
announced at the launch of the service.
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