MuniWireless

As we creep closer to WiMAX World (Sept. 29 - Oct. 2 in Chicago), the PR machines are working harder than ever, spitting out press releases on new WiMAX products and services. Today I read (again) about Azulstar’s new WiMAX service in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque (New Mexico) and Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Ferrysburg and Spring Lake (Michigan).

To refresh everyone’s memories, Azulstar tried to roll out citywide Wi-Fi service in Rio Rancho and even bid on the Wireless Silicon Valley…

Winston-Salem has decided to shelve its citywide wireless project. The city reposted its Request for Proposals, but failed to receive any credible bid. Azulstar, the company that won the initial bid, pulled out of the project in March this year. They have a 1 square mile demonstration site running in the downtown area. The equipment has since been removed. According to Lynda Goff, IBM and Cisco remain committed to the project if a service provider will come forward. Azulstar has…

Unable to raise the capital needed to fund the ambitious Wireless Silicon Valley regional network, Azulstar is out as the project’s lead contractor. The consortium behind the project, headed by IBM and Cisco, evidently has not given up on the plan to unwire 40 cities. But, at this point, is it even doable? Unable to raise the capital needed to fund the ambitious Wireless Silicon Valley regional network, Azulstar is out as the project’s lead contractor.

IDG news interviewed Azulstar ’s…

Sacramento has chosen Metro Connect, the same consortium that won the Silicon Valley wireless project, to build a citywide wireless broadband network that is scheduled to go live in 2009. The Sacramento city council has chosen Metro Connect LLC, a joint venture of Cisco, Intel, SeaKay and Azulstar, to deploy a citywide Wi-Fi network that is scheduled to go live in autumn 2009. The city will be an anchor tenant; it will buy broadband access from Metro Connect.

There is free…

Three major service providers, including AT&T, EarthLInk and Azulstar, told attendees of the Muni Wireless conference in Massachusetts today that disappointments in early muni deployments are an expected part of the process in an emerging technology.Three major service providers, including AT&T, EarthLInk and Azulstar, told attendees of the Muni Wireless conference in Massachusetts today that disappointments in early muni deployments are an expected part of the process in an emerging technology.

Carl Nerup, vice president of business development at AT&T, called…

While EarthLink re-evaluates its position in the muni market, Azulstar is quietly upping the ante.While EarthLink re-evaluates its position in the muni market, Azulstar is quietly upping the ante.

Azulstar’s appointment of IBM’s muni wireless point man, Yorke Rhodes III, as its new CEO last month got lost in the headlines surrounding EarthLink’s announced re-evaluation. But don’t let its relegation to the back of the business section go unnoticed; Rhodes is out to shake up the market.

In press releases and interviews…