AT&T Signs Municipal Wi-Fi Deal

AT&T SIGNS MUNICIPAL WI-FI DEAL
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Peter Grant peter.grant@wsj.com]
AT&T, trying to break into the business of providing wireless broadband networks to municipalities, has signed its first customer: the city of Springfield, Illinois. Under the three-year deal, announced by Springfield Mayor Timothy Davlin Tuesday, AT&T will build a so-called "Wi-Fi" network that will cover a 25-square mile area around the city center. In parts of the city outside- that area, residents and businesses will be able to connect if they have a special antenna on their roofs. AT&T will provide a free tier of service at a relatively slow speed and charge for service at faster speeds. AT&T, the major telephone company in Springfield, also will offer its high speed Internet subscribers special deals to use the Wi-Fi network. The deal must still be approved by the Springfield city council. Some details have not been worked out, like how much AT&T will charge and how many hours a day the free service will be available. AT&T will pay for the cost of the network.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115687644979448591.html?mod=djemTECH
(requires subscription)

* AT&T, in Shift, Sets Pact For City Wi-Fi Network
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115687644979448591.html?mod=todays_us_ma...
(requires subscription)

* AT&T eyes municipal Wi-Fi deals, 1st in Illinois
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&story...