Press Releases
City of Portland Selects SkyPilot Networks and MetroFi to Deliver Citywide Multi-Use Wi-Fi Network
First Municipal Wi-Fi Network in State of Oregon to Provide Wireless Public Internet Access and Public Safety Services
PORTLAND, Ore. – April 13, 2006 – SkyPilot Networks, the leading provider of carrier-class broadband wireless mesh networks, today announced that the City of Portland, Ore., has selected MetroFi, the leader in designing, building and operating citywide Wi-Fi networks, to build out a wireless network powered by SkyPilot equipment. The mixed-use network will provide citywide public Internet access as well as new enhanced services for the City of Portland’s public safety, public works, property inspectors and other field-based employees who will be equipped to wirelessly download and upload reports and data from the field.
“We are proud to partner with MetroFi in this effort to bring ubiquitous wireless Internet access to the City of Portland,” said Portland Mayor Tom Potter. “I am eager to see the technology employed to help streamline city services and enhance public safety communications.”
City Commissioner Dan Saltzman also praised the announcement. "This partnership between MetroFi and the City represents a monumental effort to bridge the digital divide. Free wireless Internet access will benefit residents, businesses and even visitors to Portland,” Saltzman said.
Portland has been proclaimed North America’s “Best Big City,” according to Money magazine, due to its strong focus on livability, visibility and now, Wi-Fi accessibility. The city spans 134 square miles with a population of approximately 540,000 and represents the largest municipal Wi-Fi network to date. Portland marks another important municipal Wi-Fi network win for MetroFi and SkyPilot, which already have announced plans to deploy carrier-class mesh networking systems in Cupertino, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, Calif., as well as Aurora, Ill.
The City of Portland sought out a cost-effective and simplified solution capable of integrating multiple frequency bands, including 2.4 GHz for public access and public safety and 5 GHz mesh backhaul services. SkyPilot’s SkyExtender DualBand, a high-capacity mesh backhaul device with an integrated wireless access point mounted at strategic points within the Portland city limits, will be instrumental in delivering city services and public access to the community. The free, advertising-sponsored Wi-Fi service will be delivered throughout Portland by network operator MetroFi.
“It’s well-known that Portland is a highly desirable place to live and visit. With the addition of free citywide Wi-Fi service and improved city services, Portland will be even more attractive,” said SkyPilot CEO Bob Machlin. “The scope of this deployment, our largest to date, will showcase the high availability, scalability and security advantages of our wireless mesh network architecture.”
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™ 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.