Wifi Revolution

Internet service provider EarthLink announced Friday that it was tapped to build a citywide WiFi hotspot in St. Petersburg, Florida. The St. Petersburg City Council has accepted a proposal from the ISP to build, own and operate a 60-square-mile WiFi (News - Alert) network, at no cost to the city.

 

This project is reportedly valued at approximately $6.8 million for the build-out of the network. The ISP expects to make a total investment of $9.3 million in network maintenance costs. EarthLink plans to recover this investment by charging residents, businesses and other organizations a monthly subscription or an hourly charge to occasional users for broadband Internet service.

 

“This is great news for residents, businesses and visitors in St. Petersburg,” said St. Petersburg's Mayor Rick Baker in a statement. “Soon, all Internet users in our city will have the opportunity to obtain seamless, reliable and affordable wireless broadband access that will help us promote job creation, business and economic growth, and enhance the quality of life of residents and visitors to the city.”

 

EarthLink will enable multiple providers, such as People PC, Vonage and DirecTV (News - Alert) to offer its Internet service to consumers and businesses over its WiFi network. For small businesses, St. Petersburg's wireless network will also provide an alternative for broadband connectivity, such as affordable fixed wireless solutions.

 

Expanding on EarthLink's WiFi relationship with Vonage (News - Alert), the companies have joined forces to offer customers WiFi Internet access in select cities throughout the United States. Vonage will buy Internet access on a wholesale basis from EarthLink in all cities where the company will build, own and operate municipal wireless networks. Vonage agreed to resell this WiFi Internet service to its consumers under the Vonage brand.

 

“St. Petersburg is Florida's 'Sunshine City,' and one of the East Coast's premier destinations, and the citywide, wireless broadband network EarthLink will build only enhances the city's reputation as a great place to live, work and visit,” said Donald Berryman, executive vice president of EarthLink and president of the ISP's municipal networks unit. “The network will provide an alternative to traditional, landline-based high-speed Internet offerings and gives users a new, affordable option to stay connected while in the city.”

 

In addition to St. Petersburg, EarthLink has ongoing municipal WiFi contracts in Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia; Anaheim and Milpitas, California and New Orleans.

 

---

 

Back to WiFi Revolution home