Part of the network is already up and running and providing free services to residents and visitors in the city's world class parks and recreation area used for regional baseball tournaments that host an average of 25 thousand people a weekend.
"We are building the best, high quality, state-of-the art wireless access network for our citizens, giving residents more choice in broadband solutions and, for some, access where it has not existed before," said mayor Greg Davis. "We are working with the leaders in the industry to make this happen, as our rapid and exemplary success with our parks and recreations area shows. And, we are taking the approach to own and operate the network to make sure that we have the flexibility and control to provide the best service and responsiveness to our citizen customers."
"For business or residential use, MagnoliaWave provides affordable high speed internet service at a very reasonable rate," said Mike Ferguson with McCullar Ferguson Realty. "It feels good to know that this is a home grown product and service."
The city plans to offer services on a fee basis in early spring to its residents, some 40,000 total in population, with the expectation that 3,000 to 4,000 residents will subscribe initially. In addition, the city will use the network for public safety, enabling police and fire workers to access critical databases from their laptops in vehicles in the field.
MagnoliaWave will begin the deployment early in 2007 in conjunction with the wireless integration division of GTS, which is providing design and consulting services, and will use the equipment from Tropos Networks. Tropos 5210 metro mesh routers will be installed throughout the city on light poles and Tropos 4210 mobile routers placed in public safety vehicles.
"We are pleased to be working with the city on the design and installation of their new cutting edge wireless network," said Wes Goswick, director of GTS's wireless division. "Our background and experience in the installation of wireless mesh networks around the country makes us a perfect partner for the Southaven network."
