AT&T Scraps Springfield Wi-Fi The muni-Fi implosion continues... Wednesday Aug 29 2007 08:52 EDT Tipped by Randy34 AT&T has decided to scrap plans to build a citywide Wi-Fi network in Springfield, Illinois. The company originally "saw this as a growth opportunity" last year when the deal (a first for AT&T) was announced, but got cold feet just in the past few weeks. Yesterday, Chicago decided to back out of a deal of their own, with Earthlink and AT&T likely suitors. These decisions come after months of bad press for citywide Wi-Fi. |
PaladinSage of the light join:2001-08-17 Chester, IL |
Muni Wi-fiPersonally, I'm not so sure that muni wi-fi will work. I'm just not impressed that government can run this so well. Now wide range wimax networks can be run by a municipality... we will see that gain some traction. However, in the case of Springfield and Chicago, they should try to investigate a muni fiber optic network to compete with AT&T (or make sure AT&T runs fiber everywhere by some sort of contract or subsidy.) | |
| | batterupI Can Not Tell A Lie. Premium Member join:2003-02-06 Netcong, NJ |
batterup
Premium Member
2007-Aug-29 4:49 pm
Re: Muni Wi-fisaid by Paladin: (or make sure AT&T runs fiber everywhere by some sort of contract or subsidy.) at&t doesn't do fiber. I'm from the government and I'm here to help you. | |
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little Guy Premium Member join:2000-01-17 Tulsa, OK |
KrK
Premium Member
2007-Aug-29 9:09 am
SmokescreenWhy would AT&T want to build a network that competes with their Telco offerings like T1, DSL, etc.
My guess is that offers to build Muni-Fi is just another way to keep competition at bay. | |
| garmst join:2000-09-17 New York, NY |
garmst
Member
2007-Aug-29 9:22 am
Muni WiFi was never technically feasibleThe lover affair with MuniWiFi was always fantasy. "Littering" a large area with 300ft-ish microcells makes no economic sense given the aquisition cost of the equipment, power costs and maintenance. Then on top of it you have to almost give it away to please a bunch of liberals in city GOV who won't pay for it themselves.
WiMAX was always the practical choice because of the larger signal footprint which translates into lower equipment and operation costs.
Finally...reality shows up. | |
| | DaveDudeNo Fear join:1999-09-01 New Jersey 1 edit |
Re: Muni WiFi was never technically feasibleI think local governments should stay out of the telecom business. I can understand providing Wifi in schools, parks, government building etc. But citywide is a bit over the top. I do like the idea of community fiber, but i think it would be better if it were leased to a private corporation. | |
| | | vipermCarpe Diem Premium Member join:2002-07-09 Winchester, CA |
viperm
Premium Member
2007-Aug-29 10:01 am
Re: Muni WiFi was never technically feasibleWimax is NOT the end all be all and it never will be. Why people thnk its going to outperform everything else wireless is a far cray from reality!
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Michieru_
Anon
2007-Aug-29 10:21 am
Re: Muni WiFi was never technically feasibleOf course not, but it's a step in the right direction, where as these ideas simply did not. | |
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| | DaneJasperSonic.Net Premium Member join:2001-08-20 Santa Rosa, CA |
to DaveDude
said by DaveDude:I think local governments should stay out of the telecom business. I can understand providing Wifi in schools, parks, government building etc. But citywide is a bit over the top. I do like the idea of community fiber, but i think it would be better if it were leased to a private corporation. Muni WiFi doesn't mean that the city is going to pay for it, it just means it's "citywide". In this case, AT&T was going to build and pay for it, but has decided not to. -Dane | |
| | | | firephotoTruth and reality matters Premium Member join:2003-03-18 Brewster, WA |
firephoto
Premium Member
2007-Aug-29 11:22 am
Re: Muni WiFi was never technically feasiblesaid by DaneJasper:Muni WiFi doesn't mean that the city is going to pay for it, it just means it's "citywide". In this case, AT&T was going to build and pay for it, but has decided not to. This is the problem with the whole "muni-wifi" is failing crap lately. Some private company fails or doesn't continue on with their wifi for all pipe dream promises for a whole city and the city and municipal industry gets some bad press for a failure supposedly. Guess what, AT&T got what they wanted, they kept out the competition and kept the city from doing something themselves and they keep servicing their broadband customers as always in that area. | |
| | | | korymGo Wisp's
join:1999-12-23 Richmond, VA |
to DaneJasper
I say let the people, i.e. the citizens, the matters in to their own hands. If it's a grassroots, community-supported, volunteer-based initiative, chances are it'll make it. Just my opinion. Regards, Kory | |
| | | | | DaneJasperSonic.Net Premium Member join:2001-08-20 Santa Rosa, CA |
Re: Muni WiFi was never technically feasiblesaid by korym:I say let the people, i.e. the citizens, the matters in to their own hands. If it's a grassroots, community-supported, volunteer-based initiative, chances are it'll make it. Just my opinion. Regards, Kory This is the direction we're going. More on this later today. -Dane | |
| | | | | | korymGo Wisp's
join:1999-12-23 Richmond, VA |
korym
2007-Sep-1 10:33 pm
Re: Muni WiFi was never technically feasible | |
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batterupI Can Not Tell A Lie. Premium Member join:2003-02-06 Netcong, NJ |
batterup
Premium Member
2007-Aug-29 4:47 pm
I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.Democratic Congress puts municipal Wi-Fi on the agenda. It all about the *tubes, massive sticky tubes*. » www.muniwireless.com/art ··· iew/5554BWHAAAAAAHHHHHAAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAHHHH EYE-ROLL. | |
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