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Earthlink building WiFi network in New Orleans

by Administrator

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We already knew that Earthlink was building a WiFi network in San Francisco in a joint partnership with Google. However, this time it looks the offering won’t be free for long. Wireless access could come in handy while the city is being rebuilt.

Free service for up to 300kpbs has been offered initially. 3mb connections will be available for a flat fee.

The high speed network will be a mesh that covers 15 miles when completed. Earthlink did not announce the cost of the project or give an estimate for construction completion.

BellSouth had attempted to shut down free wireless access in the city, so Earthlink’s plan was completely different and accepted quickly by the city council in the beleaguered city.

Though EarthLink hasn’t said when construction will begin, the sooner it gets under way, the better. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the city had installed a wireless mesh network for crime surveillance and security. After Katrina, the city’s Chief Technical Officer Greg Meffert put the mesh network to work as a free communications tool for those who needed it. For the duration of the city’s state of emergency, the wireless network’s bandwidth would be limited to 512 kbps, but according to Louisiana state law, the bandwidth must be lowered to 128 kbps once the emergency is declared over.

Considering how long after Katrina is, it’s safe to say the wireless mesh has been in a great state of disarray. The Earthlink project should make life easier for the city’s IT professionals.

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