Aurora, Illinois issues RFI for citywide Wi-Fi network
Aurora, Illinois has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking responses from companies that may be interested in deploying a free or low-cost citywide Wi-Fi network. Last month, MetroFi told the city that it would shut down the city’s Wi-Fi network because the costs were too high and the return on investment too uncertain. Only 20 percent of Aurora has Wi-Fi coverage (via MetroFi’s network). The purpose of the RFI is to gather information about the kinds of services that a provider might be able to offer Aurora and the costs of providing those services.
It will be difficult for Aurora to find a provider who is willing to set up a network without any payment from the city or other large institutions. Philadelphia managed to resuscitate their citywide Wi-Fi network because new investors stepped in, but those investors also said they would target large institutions such as hospitals and colleges, as anchor tenants. Minneapolis and Riverside (California) have running networks but the cities pay the service providers an annual fee for municipal use of the networks.
Go to the Aurora, Illinois website to download the RFI: http://www.aurora-il.org/
Link to RFI (PDF format): Aurora Muni RFI
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