high speed internet

Utah Transit deploys WiFi

Lynnette Luna — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:17:01 -0400

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is using U.K.-based Nomad Digital's WiFi technology to offer high-speed Internet access to all of its passengers aboard its new FrontRunner commuter rail line. Twelve double-decker trains on the new 40-mile FrontRunner commuter line between Ogden and Salt Lake City are offering connectivity to passengers. According to Nomad, in the six weeks since the railroad opened for business, the number of passengers using the WiFi service has increased from 300 per day at the start of May to 700 per day currently.

"A high-speed and free WiFi Internet connection for passengers is a key part of getting people out of their cars and onto the train. Every day more and more of our customers are realizing that one of the many benefits of riding by train is that they can use their commuting time productively-whether it be for information, entertainment, or work-rather than focusing on the road," Clair Fiet, UTA's Chief Technology Officer, said in a press release.

For more:
- check out Wi-Fi Planet

Related articles:
Startup offers San Fran's BART free WiFi service
EarthLink officially pulls plug on muni-WiFi business. See this EarthLink story

ALSO NOTED: Ofcom gives 10 broadband spectrum; Vocera releases new WiFi phone; and much more...

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:59:51 -0500

> Ofcom awards 10 companies spectrum in the 10 GHz to 40 GHz band. Article

> A small increase in U.S. broadband adoption would have an annual economic impact of $134 billion, according to a new study. Article

> Vocera introduced the T1000 WiFi phone for mobile workers. Article

And Finally... Japan successfully launched an experimental satellite designed to provide high-speed Internet access across Asia. Article

ALSO NOTED: Wisconsin city to get new WiMAX service; picoChip introduces femtocell reference design for TD-SCDMA; and much more

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:59:51 -0500

> Madison, Wisc., will soon be unwired for a new WiMAX service that will include digital-phone and high-speed Internet access. Article

> U.K. chip company picoChip introduced a femtocell reference design supporting China's TD-SCDMA standard. Article

And Finally... Mobile phones are being blamed for disrupting sleep patterns. Article

Cablevision offers free WiFi to high-speed users

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:59:55 -0500

Cable operator Cablevision is rolling out free WiFi service to customers of its high-speed Internet services in Peekskill, Pleasantville and Pelham, N.Y. The move is part of the company's strategy to improve service for its customers. Of course, coverage is limited so that customers still primarily rely on their high-speed connections from Cablevision. But it's a smart way to stave off competition from fixed broadband providers.

For more information:
- read this blog post from LoHud.com
- check out this article from Muniwireless

ALSO NOTED: WiFi-only phones won't replace cellular phones; Lexmark will introduce WiFi-enabled inkjet printers; and much more.

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:31 -0400

> Not really a surprise here. WiFi-only phones probably won't replace cellular phones anytime soon. Article

> Cisco built a massive WiFi network in Italy. Article

> Lexmark will introduce six inkjet printers that will have built-in 802.11b/g. Article

> Moovera Networks and Vodafone U.K. are launching free high-speed Internet access on Europe's most frequent express coach service. Article

SPOTLIGHT: Muni-WiFi degrades corporate network security

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 20:01:33 -0400

Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., have announced plans to build citywide, public, open-access 2.4 GHz WiFi networks for local government use and as affordable high-speed Internet access for citizens. The large-scale deployment of muni networks could cause significant security and management heartburn for any business that handles confidential information, including financial, healthcare and legal firms. The largest concern is the ability to compromise the security of the corporate local area network regardless of how it is set up. Analysis

2007 federal budget: Communications highlights

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 19:01:35 -0500

The sale of U.S. wireless communications licenses will raise about $25 billion between 2007 and 2009, $7.8 billion more than last year's estimate, according to the 2007 budget submitted to Congress Monday. Here are some of the communication highlights from the proposed 2007 budget:

The FCC will start selling 90 MHz of wireless airwaves on June 29, an auction which could raise as much as $15 billion.
The auctioned airwaves will be used for advanced mobile communications such as high-speed Internet and video services. T-Mobile, Verizon and other U.S. wireless carriers are expected to bid in the sale.
The proposed budget estimates that $9.95 billion from wireless auctions would be received in fiscal 2007. It also expects $12.24 billion in fiscal 2008.
The budget projects $2.87 billion being received in fiscal 2009.
The total amount the administration expects to gather from auctions for 2007-2009 is thus $25.06 billion, considerably more than the $17.2 billion Bush's budget had estimated last year with regard to 2007-2009 spectrum auctions.
The increased auction proceeds would help the administration reduce the federal deficit: The proposed $2.77 trillion budget for fiscal 2007 leaves a $354 billion deficit for the year.
In early 2008 the FCC will also start selling wireless airwaves which are being vacated by TV broadcasters as they move to other frequencies for their higher-quality digital broadcasts. That move is supposed to be completed by February 17, 2009.
Last year Congress instructed the FCC to start that sale by January 28, 2008, and the proceeds to be deposited by June 30, 2008.
$7.4 billion in proceeds from that sale are to be used to help reduce the federal deficit.
$1.5 billion is set aside to help consumers buy converter boxes for their existing analog television sets.
$1 billion from the proceeds was allocated to a grant program to help public safety agencies buy new interoperable communications equipment so they are better able to communicate during emergencies.

For more on the proposed 2007 budget:
- see this blog entry from Engadget