AT&T sets up 'Muni' WiFi in California

AT&T sets up 'Muni' WiFi in California
By Paul Taylor in New York
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: July 9 2007 03:00 | Last updated: July 9 2007 03:00


AT&T, the largest US telecommunications group, is launching its first WiFi wireless broadband internet service today in Riverside, California.

The deployment highlights AT&T's decision to embrace public WiFi technology as a complementary broadband delivery system alongside DSL and other options.

In contrast some US telecoms groups - including Verizon, AT&T's main rival - continue to oppose municipal WiFi projects.

A growing number of cities and communities across the US, including Philadelphia, New York and San Francisco have announced plans to offer so called "Muni" WiFi services, mostly in conjunction with private sector participants.

AT&T teamed up with MetroFi, a leading provider of free wireless internet access, to build the Riverside network, which uses WiFi mesh technology deployed on city-owned power poles and other infrastructure.

When fully deployed, AT&T Metro WiFi in Riverside will be the nation's largest WiFi deployment for both municipal and public use.

It will eventually cover 55 square miles of the city and provide free and paid subscription services to consumers and business users as well as municipal wireless broadband services for the police and other departments.

Phase one of the project, will cover a three-square-mile area that includes downtown Riverside, Hunter Technology Park and an industrial estate called the Adams Auto Center.

In addition to the advertising-supported free service provided by MetroFi designed to enable lower-income residents to access the internet, AT&T will offer users a subscription-based high-speed internet access service aimed at visitors to the city for $7.99 a day and $15.99 for a weekly pass.

Riverside, one of the fastest growing cities in California, has a population of about 300,000.

The city is testing the service to run video to and from police department patrol cars, replacing a process that required manual uploading of patrol car video back at the station house.