EarthLink Inc. announced a contract with Motorola Inc. and Tropos Networks Inc. as the Internet service provider prepares to launch municipal Wi-Fi networks in five cities.
Though terms of the contract were not disclosed, EarthLink said the agreement includes design, installation, system integration and hardware. EarthLink has already been selected to provide Wi-Fi networks to Philadelphia and Anaheim, Calif.
Motorola said it will provide its MOTOwi4 portfolio of products, including its Canopy point-to-point and point-to-multipoint system for high-speed backhaul. “The EarthLink business model for Wi-Fi brings broadband to the masses,” said Tom Hulsebosch, senior director of sales and marketing for Motorola’s Canopy Wireless Broadband Business. “This means that anyone can afford broadband data, not just business customers. This will help create a `broadband anywhere’ expectation.”
Tropos pointed out that the companies have been working together for some time, including EarthLink’s deployments in Anaheim and Philadelphia.
“We have seen an aggressive increase in the successful implementation of mesh technology, leading to the tremendous demand for municipal Wi-Fi projects that now exists,” said Ron Sege, president and chief executive officer of Tropos.
Sege added that while Tropos’ sales in 2005 were primarily fueled by suburban Wi-Fi projects, he expects much of Tropos’ 2006 sales to stem from large, metropolitan Wi-Fi network projects.
EarthLink is bidding on several municipal Wi-Fi projects, including those in San Francisco; Portland, Ore.; and Minneapolis.
“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.
