The WiFi First Responder Pilot Project (pdf) is giving emergency personnel Internet access along the CANAMEX Corridor near Arizona’s southern border. The corridor follows three highways and spans 487 miles, long portions of which lack reliable cellular and landline service.
The project allows first responders to connect to the Internet from their vehicles across a 30-mile stretch of I-19 from Green Valley in Pima County to Rio Rico in Santa Cruz County.
 |
 |
Built upon efforts already underway to make the CANAMEX Corridor a “smart corridor,” the WiFi First Responder Pilot Project showcases technological solutions for first responders and rural areas.
According to State CIO Chris Cummiskey, “The CANAMEX ’smart corridor’ improves the lives of people in neighboring communities and benefits travelers moving through it.” Besides the obvious benefits to emergency responders using the system, the Wireless Project provides much-needed internet connectivity to schools, businesses, and residences near the corridor.
The broadband network eventually will cover 120 state agencies and 250 communities. The primary contractor was WI-VOD, short for “Wireless Voice Over and Data”), a Virginia-based company. RoamAD provided roaming handoff client software.
The main goal was to provide high bandwidth, user prioritization and proof that Wi-Fi can play an important role in delivering voice and data service cost-effectively. The WiFi Pilot Project was funded by a grant from the Federal Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Information Technology and Evaluation Program (ITEP) to improve information sharing and integration among first responders.
Related DailyWireless articles include; WiFi Public Transport, This is Only A Test, State-wide Interoperability Plan. Clearwire’s $900M Payday, Emergency Communications SimDay and InterOp Takes a Holiday.
