TMCnet News
EarthLink and Motorola Reach Accord for WiFi DeploymentsBy Erik Linask
Associate Editor, INTERNET TELEPHONY
Internet service provider EarthLink has stepped into a contract with Motorola, whereby the telephony equipment manufacturer agreed to provide products and services for the first five city-wide WiFi installations Earthlink will perform.
Philadelphia and Anaheim are the first two cities to sign on with EarthLink for wireless broadband Internet access networks, and others are sure so follow. Motorola will provide equipment — primarily its Moto-wi4 portfolio — and network design, and will perform installation and integration tasks. “Motorola continues to be the global leader in municipal communications engineering and technology. Our MOTOwi4 portfolio provides EarthLink with the solutions that
fulfill municipal communications networks’ requirements, and enable low cost, high speed wireless Internet access,” said Raghu Rau, senior vice president of Global Marketing and Strategy, Motorola Networks.
The third player in this deal is Tropos Networks, which provides part of Motorola’s WiFi solution. Tropos provides MetroMesh WiFi mesh network that Motorola will install on light post in the cities that will enable wireless data connectivity. Rather than a single line, this system builds a routing net to produce the best possible user experience.
“We have seen an aggressive increase in the successful implementation of mesh technology, leading to the tremendous demand for municipal WiFi projects that now exists. This is the beginning of a great relationship with the unique skills, vision and market presence necessary to deliver the great economic and social benefits this new technology enables,” explained Tropos president and CEO Ron Sege
The EarthLink solution appeals to municipalities because it not only adds increases mobility and connectivity within the cities, but it has the added potential to provide service to residents that previously were unable to receive broadband connectivity due to cost, location, or other difficulties.
“Our collaboration with Motorola and Tropos enables EarthLink to build state-of-the-art wireless networks that will provide these municipalities with low cost, high speed broadband access for residential and business customers, visitors, and city employees,” said Donald Berryman, president of EarthLink's Municipal Networks Division. “This Wi-Fi solution opens the door to consumers that want inexpensive and ubiquitous access to the Internet on their own terms.”
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