On the First Day, Network Handles Impressive 2679 Users and 20 Gigabytes in
Downloads
VENICE, Italy--(Business Wire)--
The City of Venice, Italy, held an event last Friday to launch the first
wireless broadband network in this historical city. The Tropos-based wireless
network provides public Internet access and "digital citizenship" to residents
and local businesses; access for tourists for local information and activities;
and will help the City to modernize services. "Many European cities have Wi-Fi;
no other has this kind of wide coverage," said Michele Vianello, vice mayor of
Venice, who was also responsible for leading the project. "The fast Wi-Fi,
between 20 and 100 megabytes, will enable development of e-commerce, freeing the
heart of the old city from unsightly antennas. It should also provide a big
competitive advantage for business," Vianello added.
Wireless Internet access is now available for free to residents, students and
businesses of Venice. In his public address, Vianello encouraged citizens to try
the community network that would not have been possible without their support.
Tourists and visitors will be offered access to the network for 5 Euros a day
through the Venice Connect website (http://www.veniceconnected.com/node/301).
The service will enable tourists to have broader access to local information as
they walk around the City or ride a gondola through the Grand Canal, increasing
awareness of local goods and services.
In addition to using the network for public access, the City plans to securely
use the same network to modernize city operations, improving efficiencies and
communications. City departments that will use the network include police and
the traffic department. Currently, the network covers approximately 7 km along
the Grand Canal and includes coverage at many of the popular piazzas and parks.
Longer term plans include extending the network to the Marco Polo International
Airport to provide travelers easy access to the Internet while they are in and
around the airport.
The network launch events began with a unique ribbon cutting ceremony held
aboard a boat moving through the Grand Canal; passengers included dignitaries,
news agencies and guests. Those on board were invited to connect to the network
from their mobile Wi-Fi enabled devices to demonstrate the ease in accessing the
Internet and maintaining connectivity while the boat moved through the canal. In
the evening, festivities continued as the City hosted an interactive digital
Wi-Fi treasure hunt, "Whaiwhai", with participation from a team of youths from
Venice and Mestre. Each team boarded one of two boats and using mobile Wi-Fi
devices, connected to the Internet for clues that guided them to the location of
their next clue. Throughout the day on July 3rd, the Tropos wireless network
recorded an impressive 2,679 users who connected to the network, downloading 20
gigabytes and uploading 6 gigabytes of information.
The City purchased the Tropos network, which was designed and installed by
Vitrociset, a Rome-based system integrator. Venis Spa, a local ICT management
and development company, will operate and maintain network operations on behalf
of the City.
"We are excited to have been selected to help bring first-time wireless
broadband to a remarkable historical venue such as Venice," said Tom Ayers,
president and CEO of Tropos Networks. "Based upon the experience of our
customers, I have seen how an IP foundation can help benefit a community in so
many ways from improving the local economy and experience of visitors to
enhancing City services from traffic management to public safety."
About Tropos Networks.
Tropos Networks is the worldwide market leader in wireless IP broadband mesh
networks that enable customers to own and control a smart, affordable, IP
foundation for deploying applications and services that build greener, safer,
smarter communities. Tropos has more than 750 customers in over 30 countries
around the world using the patented Tropos System Architecture to build Smart
Cities and Smart Grids that are reliable, scalable and secure. Founded in 2000,
Tropos is headquartered in the United States in Sunnyvale, California. For more
information, please visit www.tropos.com, or email to info@tropos.com. Tropos is
a registered trademark and Greener, Safer, Smarter is a trademark of Tropos
Networks, Inc.
All other brand or product names, trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned
herein are the property of their respective holder(s).
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6000432&lang=en
Tropos Networks
Denise Barton, 408-470-7397
denise.barton@tropos.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
