Wifi Revolution

Lok Technology Inc., a provider of wireless gateways and centralized-authentication appliances, has successfully completed CenturyTel’s (News - Alert) WiFi deployment in Vail, Colo.

Sitting between the powerful WAN links servicing the network and the delivery infrastructures (radios, antennas and back-haul equipment), the LokBox appliance is an all-in-one solution. The solution centralizes numerous functions including authentication and login, edge management, captive portal, billing, traffic shaping, content filtering, policy enforcement, bandwidth management, and many more.

CenturyTel reportedly chose the solution as its network provisioning and management system because of its rich feature set. The company uses the LokBox appliance to design, integrate and manage a single piece of equipment while ensuring customer satisfaction.

According to Ron Braden, Information Technology director, Town of Vail / Vail Public Safety Communications, they wanted to create a municipal WiFi (News - Alert) network that was carrier grade and could solidify Vail as a true world-class resort.

“We wanted the best-in-class equipment and got it. Lok Technology is a key component of the CenturyTel network,” said Braden.

CenturyTel’s service plans will also be monetized by the LokBox appliance to generate revenue along multiple streams. This allows flexible public Internet access programs, enhanced security and location-based services.

The WiFi network in Vail Valley provides Internet access to public safety and city workers, 5,000 local residents, town businesses, and the 1.4 million guests visiting annually.

Users can access the network and receive free (limited bandwidth) access in one-hour increments. People requiring more bandwidth or longer access times can subscribe to one of the service offerings managed by the LokBox appliance.

As the customer base grows and new needs arise, CenturyTel can leverage the flexible architecture design of the LokBox device to quickly expand or change service offerings.

CenturyTel has deployed a dual system high-availability LokBox configuration (LokSafe kit) to ensure there is no single-point of failure and that scheduled or unscheduled downtime has minimal impact to customers.

This ensures ensure customer satisfaction and that end-users are provided with fast Internet access with no downtime.

“We believe this to be the premier WiFi network in the country, if not in the world,” said Keenan Klinger, Lok Technology president in a press release.

“CenturyTel and the Town of Vail have built a world-class network for a world-class resort and we are very proud to be an integral part of the deployment,” he concluded.

Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Lok provides gateways and centralized-authentication appliances designed to manage, provision, and protect revenue-generating networks.

Want to learn more about WiFi and related wireless technologies? Then be sure to check out TMCnet’s Whitepaper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers whitepapers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.

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Anuradha Shukla is a contributing editor for TMCnet, covering call centers, CRM and information technology. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

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