The city of Napa, California, this week approved an agreement with AT&T for a 12-square- mile Metro Wi-Fi deployment, using AT&T’s wireless broadband Internet access network solution.
The planned Wi-Fi network will add publicly accessible hotspots to the extensive, AT&T communications network in Napa, enabling residents, visitors, city employees and businesses to tap into the network from virtually all developed areas within the city.
Users will be able to choose from a variety of connectivity options, including a free, advertising-supported access choice or higher-speed access tiers offered by AT&T.
In addition, the city of Napa will use a parallel AT&T Metro Wi-Fi system supporting municipal and public-safety communications needs. After testing this system across a two-square-mile area, Napa will use the network to support municipal services. This parallel system will run over a separate 4.9 GHz frequency to enhance communications for city police, fire and public works employees.
Possible uses of this Network include streaming video in police vehicles, remote meter reading, data transmissions of patient records from ambulances rushing to hospitals and temporary or remote emergency operations centers. Other applications include benefits such as crime prevention and cost efficiencies.
Construction of the network is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with the first phase of the wireless network expected to be completed during summer 2007, covering two square miles of the city. The network will then be expanded into additional areas of the city throughout 2007 and early 2008.
The agreement is the third planned deployment of AT&T Metro Wi-Fi service to date, following a contract approved by the city of St. Louis last week. Additionally, the company has begun deployment of a city Wi-Fi broadband Internet access network in Riverside, California.
In St. Louis, AT&T will install Wi-Fi antennas about 500 feet apart throughout the area’s 62 square miles of developed land. AT&T has been negotiating with St. Louis for nearly a year.
In April, 2006, Riverside, California approved an AT&T Metro Wireless plan for a citywide Wi-Fi network (86 square miles; pop. 300,000). The city will use the network for municipal purposes and public access.
A range of ad-free, paid subscription options, including day passes and monthly subscriptions, will be available in Napa. Current AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet customers will have access for special offers to access the Wi-Fi network while they are away from the home or office.
Additionally, users will be able to access a free, ad- supported broadband option at 200 Kilobits per second for up to 10 hours per month. Final details on the service packages and pricing will be announced at the launch of the service.
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Any idea about how much AT&T will charge for the various tiers of service?
Left by Springtown83 on February 28th, 2007