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Foster City Selects SkyPilot Networks and MetroFi to Deliver Free Municipal Wi-Fi Services; Free Wireless Internet Access, Public Safety Services to Benefit Region

Posted on: Monday, 19 June 2006, 12:00 CDT

SkyPilot Networks, the leading provider of carrier-class broadband wireless mesh networks, announced that Foster City, California, has selected MetroFi, the leader in designing, building and operating citywide Wi-Fi networks, to build out a wireless network powered by SkyPilot equipment in this San Mateo County city.

Free wireless Internet coverage will be available to the city's 30,000 residents as well as visitors. The 3 square mile citywide mixed-use network will also provide Foster City's public works and field personnel as well as fire safety officials with expanded access to wireless services in an effort to facilitate more responsive communication through a cost-effective network.

"We are very excited about the prospect of having Wi-Fi services available in Foster City," said Steve Toler, the City's Administrative Services Director. "MetroFi's network will provide our residents and businesses with a fantastic opportunity for internet connectivity in public spaces. We look forward to working with MetroFi and seeing Wi-Fi services thrive in our community."

Once commercially available, anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) will have the ability to gain access to 1 Mbps Internet. Providing the wireless Internet connection is SkyPilot's SkyExtender DualBand, a high-capacity mesh backhaul device with an integrated Wi-Fi access point mounted on street lights throughout the city.

Support for free Internet access at speeds up to 1 Mbps, delivered throughout the area by MetroFi, will come through advertising from local and national advertisers. Customers accessing the network will see a banner or text advertisement in the browser's frame. For $20 a month, users can subscribe to a premium service without advertising.

SkyPilot, the leading provider of carrier-class broadband wireless mesh networks, and MetroFi have collaborated on eight municipal municipalities' Wi-Fi networks.

"MetroFi continues to showcase a unique ability to fulfill the wireless needs of municipalities and their communities," said Brian Jenkins, vice president of product management at SkyPilot Networks. "By leveraging SkyPilot's wireless solution, which seamlessly integrates mesh backhaul and Wi-Fi access, MetroFi can easily build out cost-effective, large-scale wireless coverage that supports public access, public safety, and public works - at no cost to the municipality -- and supports a viable business model through a blend of advertising and paid subscribers."

About SkyPilot Networks

SkyPilot Networks is the leading provider of carrier-class wireless mesh solutions that enable service providers, municipalities, and public safety agencies to rapidly deploy cost-effective broadband access, voice over IP, public and private Wi-Fi access, video surveillance, and other wireless applications. The SkyPilot solution utilizes a patent-pending synchronous mesh architecture with high-speed switched directional antenna arrays that extends reach, mitigates interference, and maximizes spectral reuse. The result is a highly scalable, reliable, and deterministic mesh network that simplifies design, increases deployment flexibility, and dramatically reduces equipment and operating costs. SkyPilot has proven scalability and reliability with over 200 customers in more than 40 countries. SkyPilot is a principal member of the WiMAX Forum(TM) and a privately held company based in Santa Clara, California. For more information on SkyPilot and its solutions, contact pr@skypilot.com or visit http://www.skypilot.com.

Source: Business Wire

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