Tech Shout!

In its initiative to help rebuild the Crescent City, EarthLink officially announced the City of New Orleans’ municipal wireless network on Thursday - the company’s third market built out in 2006. The approximately 20-square mile Wi-Fi mesh network covers parts of the Orleans parish.

A slower free WiFi tier would be made available while the city rebuilds, plus a faster, fee-based service.

The New Orleans Wi-Fi service was first announced and launched in November 2005 in the French Quarter and Central Business District. Mayor Ray Nagin said the chief intention behind the initiative was to offer Internet access to citizens while the heavily damaged telecommunications network was repaired.

The free WiFi service would provide speeds of up to 300Kbps. Those interested in going in for faster internet service can opt for the fee-based tier, offering download speeds of up to 1Mbps for $21.95 per month. The fee would also include eight e-mail addresses and Earthlink’s security software services suite.

In addition to EarthLink Wi-Fi and the free tier available via the Feather by EarthLink capture portal, EarthLink will offer a wireless broadband service with rates ranging from $3.95 for a one-hour pass to $15.95 for a three-day pass for occasional use customers. Occasional use customers will connect and access account information from the EarthLink portal page.

Mayor Ray Nagin said, “We’re looking at everything through a new lens and we’re focused on innovation.” Nagin added, “Advanced technology will help jumpstart this recovery and will allow us to create partnerships and programs that will manage our City more effectively to work with our business community, to rebuild and ultimately to get our citizens back home.”

“Wi-Fi enabled communication during Hurricane Katrina when other means failed, so the City of New Orleans and its residents know the importance of this technology,” said Donald Berryman, executive vice president of EarthLink and president of the ISP’s municipal networks unit. “Today’s launch brings a low cost Wi-Fi solution to the city and reflects EarthLink’s commitment to helping residents, visitors and thousands of workers stay connected with low cost broadband service, at absolutely no cost to the city.”

The WiFi network will also serve as a platform for city, business and wholesale partners to access EarthLink’s municipal network for their employees and end-users.

As part of its commitment to open access, EarthLink will enable multiple providers, such as PeoplePC (http://www.peoplepc.com), to offer their Internet service to consumers and businesses over its network.

Today’s announcement marks the completion of the first stage of EarthLink’s Wi-Fi build out in New Orleans. EarthLink will continue to expand the wireless network as additional sections of the city are rebuilt, in support of the recovery efforts.

EarthLink has installed Tropos Networks’ MetroMesh Wi-Fi routers on light poles throughout the city that make possible reliable wireless data connectivity between users and the Internet. The network is operated and optimized using Tropos Control and Tropos Insight, a suite of end-to-end configuration, monitoring and maintenance tools. In addition, EarthLink has deployed Motorola’s MOTOwi4 portfolio of products, including its Canopy high-speed backhaul and Wi-Fi mesh network equipment.