HP Helps Cities Reap Benefits of Wireless Broadband

HostReview.com
Thursday, September 1, 2005; 01:08 PM

HP announced that the cities of Franklin, Tenn., and St. Cloud, Fla., have selected HP technology as the basis for their municipal wireless broadband systems.

The HP Metro-scale Wi-Fi solution will enable the cities to take advantage of the simplest, fastest, most cost-effective way to increase broadband availability for their citizens while also creating and improving public services.

The solution leverages HP's global portfolio of wireless services and products to enable large communities to meet rapidly changing demands and provide their citizens and stakeholders with greater flexibility and adaptability.

Elements of the portfolio used in these rollouts include a wide range of HP mobile access devices, including the HP iPAQ Pocket PC; industry-standard HP ProLiant servers; consulting and integration services; financial and support services; and the HP OpenView management software platform.

In Franklin, the solution will include broadband capabilities for the city's first response unit, including police and fire departments. In St. Cloud, HP is expanding an initial Wi-Fi "hot spot" to provide wireless broadband across the city.

As part of the HP Metro-scale Wi-Fi solution, HP forged an alliance with Tropos Networks and Aptilo Networks to help large communities of all kinds - cities, government agencies, large medical center and universities - achieve significant new wireless capabilities, including enhanced collaboration and simplified secure access control through a standard high-speed Wi-Fi network. The Franklin and St. Cloud networks use products from Tropos and Aptilo as part of their overall network solutions.

"We are seeing a global explosion in the demand for large-scale Wi-Fi implementations," said Enrique Barkey, worldwide director, Civilian Agency Solutions, HP.

Franklin, Tenn., has deployed a wireless broadband solution throughout the city, including its historic district, to provide wireless, mobile capabilities for its first responders. The second phase of the project will roll out additional wireless broadband capabilities to the 35-square-mile city.

"Wireless broadband will mean a faster, more comprehensive first response unit and wireless access for departments across the city," said Fred Banner, director, Municipal Information Technology, City of Franklin. "We chose HP because they offer a flexible approach and cost-effective solution that combines world-class technology, services and partners."

St. Cloud, Fla., initially selected HP to deploy a Wi-Fi umbrella as part of their city-wide broadband access program. In 2004, HP and a partner helped the city to develop the "Cyber Spot," a wireless LAN hot spot, and expanded wireless broadband capabilities across the 590-acre Stevens Plantation community.

"Ubiquitous high-speed wireless will bring lifestyle, educational and economic advantages to St. Cloud," said Glenn Sangiovanni, Mayor of St. Cloud. "With HP's help, St. Cloud is set to become one of a handful of cities with a city-wide municipal wireless network offered free to our citizens as a public service, which will enrich our education system, grow local commerce and better equip our local law enforcement and emergency response teams."