ATLANTA—EarthLink Inc. snagged a contract to build, own and operate a 23-square mile citywide Wi-Fi municipal network for commercial and government use in Pasadena, Calif.
EarthLink said it is working with city officials to develop a digital inclusion program for certain qualifying residents to provide discounted Internet access, but the company said its network will also offer Internet access for paying customers at speeds of 1 megabit per second.
Though the city of Pasadena will be an anchor tenant on the network, EarthLink said it plans to let multiple, competing providers offer services to consumers and businesses over the network.
The network will consist of Wi-Fi mesh routers and network management and optimization software from Tropos Networks Inc., along with products from Motorola Inc.’s MOTOwi4 portfolio of products, EarthLink said.
“As Wi-Fi continues to be the connecting technology of choice for consumers wanting flexible and convenient online access, we look forward to working with EarthLink to bring broadband Internet access to homes, businesses and city departments,” said John Pratt, chief information technology officer for the city of Pasadena.
EarthLink has already won municipal Wi-Fi network contracts in San Francisco, Anaheim and Milpitas, Calif.; New Orleans; and Philadelphia.
