Wifi Revolution

 

The city of Riverside, Calif. will soon be equipped with a citywide WiFi (News - Alert) broadband Internet access network, which will be deployed by AT&T. The move will enable residents living and working in the city's 80-plus square miles, as well as commuters, to have wireless access to the Internet. This will be the telecom's largest citywide WiFi designed for public and municipal use planned to date. AT&T (News - Alert) joined forces with MetroFi for this project.

 

AT&T will give users the choice to sign up for either a free advertising-supported access plan or a higher-speed access service plan.

 

"The WiFi system will increase broadband Internet choices within the city and provide new dimensions of mobility for broadband users in Riverside," said Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge in a statement. "Once implemented, this system will put Riverside at the leading edge of technology-rich cities. This exciting project invests in our city's future and enhances our quality of life for all residents."

 

Specifically, the agreement calls for AT&T to deploy equipment on city light poles and fixtures throughout the coverage area. AT&T will handle the maintenance and upgrade of the network and all related equipment, as well as handle all customer service operations. The WiFi connections will feed into the same AT&T backbone network infrastructure, which delivers a suite of broadband services, including DSL broadband and VPNs for businesses.

 

"AT&T is fully committed to delivering new innovations to spread the benefits of broadband as widely as possible," said Eric Shepcaro, senior vice president-AT&T Business Development. "This new wireless broadband network will provide Riverside residents and visitors with an unprecedented level of broadband ubiquity. Anyone in the city will be able to tap into the Internet or other online applications from a wide range of locations throughout the city. We look forward to working with the city to design and implement this network in the coming months."

 

AT&T expects the network's service options to be available online in early 2007.

 

AT&T Inc.

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