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April 13, 2006
Free WiFi for Portland Residents
By Erik Linask, Associate Editor
With wireless broadband connectivity now nearly as ubiquitous as cellular connectivity, cities from coast to coast are building WiFi (News - Alert) networks. Portland, Oregon, is the latest to announce plans for providing wireless connections to its residents and visitors.
SkyPilot Networks, a carrier-class broadband wireless mesh network equipment provider, and MetroFi, a WiFi network developer, have been named by the City of Portland, Oregon to build a city-wide wireless network. The network will be designed and built by MetroFi using SkyPilot equipment.
The new WiFi deployment will provide city-wide public Internet access as well as enhanced services for the City of Portland’s public safety, public works, property inspectors, and other field-based employees who will be equipped with wireless devices to download and upload reports and data while on the job.
Naturally, the city wanted a cost-effective solution, but it also wanted the ability to integrate multiple frequency bands — notably 2.4 GHz for public access and public safety and 5 GHz mesh backhaul services. SkyPilot’s SkyExtender DualBand, a high-capacity mesh backhaul device with an integrated wireless access point mounted at strategic points within the Portland city limits, will play a key role in delivering city services and public access to the community.
Portland was recently named North America's “Best Big City” by Money magazine, largely because of its livability factor and high visibility. City-wide wireless Internet access can only enhance its desirability. The city spans 134 square miles and has a population of more than one half million — as such, its network will the largest municipal installation to date. The addition of Portland’s network to its resume underscores MetroFi and SkyPilot’s commitment to and ability to deliver quality — they have previously announced plans to deploy carrier-class mesh networks in the California cities of Cupertino, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, as well as Aurora, Illinois.
“It's well-known that Portland is a highly desirable place to live and visit. With the addition of free citywide WiFi and improved city services, Portland will be even more attractive,” said SkyPilot CEO Bob Machlin.
Unlike many other similar deployments, Portland’s will be a free, advertising-sponsored WiFi service.
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Erik Linask is Associate Editor of INTERNET TELEPHONY. Most recently, he was Managing Editor at Global Custodian, an international securities services publication. To see more of his articles, please visit Erik Linask’s columnist page.
(source: http://news.tmcnet.com/news/-free-wifi-for-portland-oregon-residents-skypilot-networks-/2006/04/13/1570354.htm)
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