Sons And Daughters Of BBCMF , Wi-Fi Technology

[mick]

St. Cloud, Fla. Goes Live With Free Wi-Fi
3/6/2006

The city of St. Cloud, Fla. has activated free citywide high-speed wireless Internet access as a public service for its residents, city departments, schools, hospitals and businesses.

St. Cloud's network plan called for the use of approximately 300 of Tropos Networks' 5210 outdoor Wi-Fi mesh access points. That mesh network would be connected to City Hall using Motorola's Canopy wireless broadband system.

The entire wireless broadband network was planned to serve 28,000 residents, covering the city's 15 square miles.

St. Cloud, an Orlando suburb, contracted with HP and MRI to develop the wireless solution. In addition, HP Services provides network monitoring, operational services and support services on a 24/7 basis to the city.

Users log into the Cyber Spot portal using Wi-Fi-enabled computers to gain access. The portal page requires registration, but there's no fee to use the network.

-- Kurt Mackie