Trenton, N. Jersey, is poised to move ahead with plans to deploy a city-wide wireless network. If it is successful, it will be the first major city in the state with citywide wireless Internet access.
It’s always nice to see endorsements of muni wireless projects so I was warmed at the editorial that ran in the Trenton Times today, endorsing muni Wi-Fi in the capital of my home state. As the editorial notes, Trenton, New Jersey, needs a boost. An ancient town that dates to George Washington’s day, the information age seems to have left it in the rust of the Industrial Revolution.
If Trenton succeeds in deploying a wireless network, it will be the first major city in the state to have citywide wireless Internet access. Elizabeth, Somerville, Ocean City and a number of other communities across the state have similar plans. But I’m hoping that Trenton’s embrace of the technology is not a rush to deployment. Being first is not what counts in a muni deployment. Too many cities wanting to make that claim have rushed ahead with deployments that deserved more serious motivation.
The Times has clearly embraced the project so thTrenton is starting off with considerable public support. But there is a worrisome sentence in the Times’ editorial:
Too often in New Jersey, we’ve tended to look across rivers–to New York and Philadelphia–to provide the lead for our cities. Trenton has the opportunity to do Philly one better.
Click here to read the Times’ editorial.
Hey, I’m next to Trenton and already using WiFi
It’s not Trenton’s though. I live in Hamilton. The company is called Bamnet. I’ve been on it for around 6 months and it’s good. I talked to the company and they claim to have around 4 sq miles up and expect to double that size by years end. Their website is http://www.bamnet.com . They kind of have been keeping quiet about their plans.