Tempe, AZ To Provide Wireless Broadband 199
jangobongo writes "City officials of Tempe, Arizona are laying claim to being the first major metropolitan area in the United States to deploy citywide wireless Internet access. MobilePro Corp. and Strix Systems have been contracted to provide a mesh network covering the entire city, which is to be in place by late summer or early fall. Downtown Tempe and the Arizona State University will have free access available, while the rest of the city will be offered monthly subscriptions ($20 for dial-up speed and $30 to $40 for high-speed wireless). Local broadband suppliers have been quiet on this, unlike elsewhere."
Go Canada (Score:5, Informative)
What about the other rural areas? (Score:2, Informative)
in Minnesota, and Minneapolis is planning on rolling out a city-wide privately owned network soon:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/789/5342733.ht
Cool stuff either way!
Re:I Don't See This as Something to Celebrate (Score:1, Informative)
For Immediate Release
April 26, 2005
Contact: Shelley Hearn
Communication and Media Relations Director
Telephone: 480/350-8906
Tempe Wi-Fi project provides city-wide wireless access
TEMPE, Ariz. - Tempe will be a first-of-its-kind community to offer city-wide wireless access to residents, businesses, students and visitors. On April 21, the Tempe City Council voted to award a five-year contract for the wireless broadband services. The city of Tempe has teamed up with MobilePro Corporation to make the wireless network available. The project will be managed by MobilePro's Neoreach Wireless Division.
The network, known as WazTempe, will allow subscribers to select from a variety of service options. Services will be offered on an annual, monthly, daily and hourly basis. The network will allow access to multiple Internet service providers (ISP) and Voice-over-IP (VOIP), which allows telephone calls to be made over computer networks.
Subscribers will be able to access the wireless network from anywhere at any time. All Wi-Fi enabled devices will have free access to the network landing page. Users will be automatically directed to the network landing page, which will contain information about MobliePro and instructions on how to connect. Access to City of Tempe and Arizona State University (ASU) services will also be available from the landing page free of charge. Free Internet access is already offered from select areas of downtown Tempe and the ASU campus.
The agreement with MobilePro includes a second network that will be deployed on the same infrastructure which will be used by city of Tempe employees. Police, Fire, Water, Traffic and Development Services personnel will utilize this Wi-Fi enabled service to enhance the services they provide to the community. The implementation of the Wi-Fi project demonstrates Tempe's dedication and commitment as "the smart place to be."
Re:I Don't See This as Something to Celebrate (Score:2, Informative)
Re:I Don't See This as Something to Celebrate (Score:3, Informative)
Think of all the FREE unsecured connections!! :D (Score:1, Informative)
A view from inside (Score:3, Informative)
Our Council has awarded a contract to MobilePro to build-out a wireless network citywide. MobilePro will utilize some City infrastructure (mostly light poles) for the build-out. In exchange, we get free dedicated bandwidth for municipal services.
We're not an ISP. We're not involved with managing bandwidth, setting subscription rates, or filtering content. And despite speculation in several posts I've read, we're not subsidizing the project. This is a partnership with ASU and MobilePro.
Our website offers a more detailed explanation:
http://www.tempe.gov/business/wifi/ [tempe.gov]