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Three 'Hot Cities' Complete Metro Wi-Fi Networks
RIO RANCHO, N.M. -- Ushering in a new generation of wireless public and government services, a city on the bank of the Rio Grande completed one of the nation's largest municipal Wi-Fi networks Tuesday.
Built for Rio Rancho by wireless services firm Azulstar Networks, the metro network provides "laptop ready" mobile Wi-Fi access across more than 40 square miles and is already delivering never-before-available services to businesses, city agencies and some 70,000 residents.
Azulstar Networks also announced it has completed two more "hot cities" in Michigan. Ferrysburg and Spring Lake have now joined Grand Haven in a tri- city metro Wi-Fi network that spans all three cities end to end.
According to City of Rio Rancho Mayor Jim Owen, "This is a proud moment for our city as we officially 'cut the cord' and become a Digital Community. We are the City of Vision and metro Wi-Fi is clearly the future. The benefits touch virtually every corner of our community, from the schools system to the transportation network, and mobile first responders. Everyone benefits."
Paul Butcher, Intel marketing manager for state and local government, added, "Wireless broadband affords an array of valuable new services that dramatically enhance government capabilities as well as quality of life for all. Intel applauds Rio Rancho for becoming a Digital Community, including deployment of valuable tools for government, business and citizens, to enhance efficiency, promote economic growth, foster greater community satisfaction and bridge the digital divide."
Thousands of residents, businesses and government agencies throughout these hot cities are enjoying the benefits of metro Wi-Fi Internet.
Rio Rancho, N.M., is one of the world's largest metro Wi-Fi networks and the first to provide quality of service, enabling a fully converged voice/data/video Wi-Fi network. The system uses more than 400 Wi-Fi and pre-WiMAX radios to provide laptop-ready Wi-Fi access over the more than 40 square mile populated region of the city.
Rio Rancho has begun to use the network for education, homeland security, and is phasing in connections for traffic, libraries, first responders and city worker mobile access.
The public school system launched a Cyber Learning Academy that enables county-wide distance learning with virtual classrooms for high school and middle school students. The Cyber Academy uses the metro Wi-Fi network exclusively for its voice, data and video needs.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is piloting a traffic monitoring and control system that connects traffic signals and video cameras using the Azulstar metro Wi-Fi network. The Rio Rancho network is being used to pilot a variety of Wi-Fi based intelligent transportation services.
Ferrysburg and Spring Lake, Mich., have now joined Grand Haven in a continued build out of the nation's first metro Wi-Fi network. The tri-city network links city operations, hospital buildings as well as thousands of residents, businesses and visitors.
The city has realized significant cost savings by using the metro network instead of fiber to link city buildings. The city is also testing wireless cameras for public safety along the city beach and pier.
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