Israeli firm gets OK for Houston WiFi service

The city of Houston will finally get its long-awaited wireless Internet services. Israel-based Alvarion Ltd., which has been running a pilot program in Houston for a year, has deployed a 4G municipal network as part of the “smart city” project. Houston received $5 million in grants and will use $1.4 million in capital funds to pay for the project, according to Brian Anderson, senior consultant and program director for the city’s wireless broadband initiative. Included in the new wireless broadband network is:

• Remote control access to 2,500 traffic intersection lights and 1,500 school zone flashers;
• Remote monitoring of 500,000 water meter accounts;
• Replacing T1 connections with WiMAX service at more than 500 city facilities, thereby reducing costs related to the T1 connections; and
• Free Internet access to some 300,000 residents in underserved, underprivileged communities.