The city of El Paso, Texas, is deploying an outdoor wireless network in a strategic collaboration between the city, county, El Paso Independent School District and the city Housing Authority to improve government efficiencies and provide Internet access to citizens and businesses, reports GovTech.
The Digital El Paso Project seeks to revitalize El Paso’s downtown area and bring universal Internet access and services to underserved citizens.
With its proximity to the U.S./Mexican border, El Paso is a diverse city that serves a largely Mexican-American population of 700,000 in its 1,013 square miles. Cisco’s outdoor wireless mesh gear will be used to provide digital inclusion and bridge the educational gap that exists for many of the El Paso Independent School District’s students.
Cisco is partnering with Intel, Accela and Panasonic, as part of the Digital Communities Initiatives. Intel provided funding for the digital inclusion and wireless site surveys. Panasonic is providing laptops for the City’s field applications and Accela is providing its popular land management software for city inspection, permit and code compliance applications.
The integrated, standards-based wireless mesh network will support voice, video and data services and will be managed from the County Courthouse as an extension of their existing wireless network. Coverage will include public areas, as well as parks, buildings and residences.
GigOm’s Katie Fehrenbacher compiled a terrific list of California’s major Hot Spots (below):
- Silicon Valley: Silicon Valley Metro Connect, a group made up of IBM, Cisco Systems, SeaKay and Azulstar are moving on this one. There will be 42 cities over almost 1,500 square miles.
- Anaheim, Pasadena, Milpitas: Earthlink’s networks. We were there for the Milpitas launch.
- San Francisco: We all know that story.
- Mountain View: Home of Google and its Wi-Fi network.
- Marin County: They’re thinking about it.
- Los Angeles: LA Times says the 500 square miles could cost between $54 million to $62 million.
- Riverside: AT&T in Wi-Fi game with MetroFi.
- Napa: AT&T too. Some raise questions with that process.
- Oakland: My city has an RFP out.
- Sacramento: WiSac project, intended for 9 counties and 30 munis.
- Pacifica: South San Francisco city goes with Veraloft.
- Concord, Cupertino, Foster City, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Corona, Fremont: MetroFi
- Long Beach: The city has Wi-Fi down south in certain areas and last I heard issued an RFP for citywide coverage.
- Galt: Softcom and BelAir.
- Fullerton (update): Tropos radios over a 24-block area.
