After years of planning (at least since 2007), Petaluma, California is rolling out its free Wi-Fi service in the downtown area. Downtown businesses and local residents have been strong supporters of the free WiFi network. In the past, Petaluma had been engaged in negotiations with Sonic.net to bring WiFi service to the city but those [...]
Free WiFi, thanks to your electric meter
March 27, 2013 by 1 Comment
Who knew that those bland little things attached to your wall to measure the amount of electricity you consume would one day provide free WiFi service to you and your neighbours? We’ve been talking about this on MuniWireless for years and finally, the city of Santa Clara, through the municipal electric utility Silicon Valley Power [...]
San Jose free WiFi network launches in downtown
March 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The San Jose free WiFi network is now up and running in the city’s downtown area. The city partnered with SmartWave Technologies (systems integrator) and Ruckus Wireless (vendor of WiFi access points) for this project. The city paid $94,000 for the infrastructure deployment and will pay $22,000 in annual maintenance costs. The wireless network relies [...]
Municipal corporation in India needs WiMAX AMR system
March 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
A municipal corporation in Surat, Gujarat, India is looking for a WiMAX system for automated meter reading (AMR) of water meters. There are about 9000 water meters of different sizes installed at present. In 2013-20414 they want to install 20,000 more meters. The city area is 335 square kilometres and they would like turnkey solution [...]
Texas City RFI for municipal wireless network
March 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The city of Texas City (pop. 46,000) has released a Request for Information (RFI) for professional services in connection with the design and deployment of a municipal wireless network. RFI City of Texas City Municipal Wireless Network 2013 The RFI seeks a Consultant to help build a public Wi-Fi network in certain areas in the [...]
Staunton, Virginia launches free WiFi service
February 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The city of Staunton, Virginia (20 square miles or 51 square kilometers; pop. 24,000) is now offering free WiFi in the city’s Gypsy Hill Park (which has a swimming pool and baseball field) and 30 municipal government locations. There are 28 wireless access points in the network, which relies on the fiber network that connects [...]
Anti-municipal broadband laws are like bubonic plague
February 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The bubonic plague (or Black Death) kept popping up in various European cities for hundreds of years. As soon as one city’s population would be decimated, the plague would die out only to reappear after a long hiatus. In the case of anti-municipal broadband bills, as soon as one would get defeated in a state [...]
Free WiFi in New York City, thanks to Google
January 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Google is starting free WiFi in New York City, beginning with the district of Chelsea, in the west side of Manhattan. The coverage zone includes the area between Gansevoort Street and West 19th Street, from 8th Avenue to 10th Avenue. According to Google, the company spent only $115,000 to build the network (this sum includes [...]
Amherst, Massachusetts deploys downtown free WiFi hotzone
December 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Amherst, Massachusetts (pop. 35,000) is providing free WiFi service in the downtown area to meet the needs of residents and visitors. Amherst is a college town that is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The town set up a downtown Wi-Fi hotzone with 35 Cisco (3620e) access points inside [...]
Advertising on MuniWireless: What Works
December 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
I am sending out the MuniWireless media kit for 2013 and many people ask the same question: What is the most effective way to advertise on MuniWireless? Here is a summary of what I have seen over the last 9 years. (1) Case studies are the most effective way for equipment vendors, service providers and [...]
