The city of Riverside, California has entered into an agreement with AT&T to provide city-wide WiFi tol cover the city’s 80-plus square miles. The project will develop the largest Wi-Fi network in the US designed for both public and municipal use.
Users will be able to choose from a variety of connectivity options, including free advertising-supported access or a higher-speed access service offered by AT&T. AT&T will deploy its equipment on city light poles and fixtures throughout the coverage area. Most importantly, AT&T will be responsible for maintaining and upgrading the network and all equipment, as well as handling customer service.
In addition, the city of Riverside will use a parallel Wi-Fi system, built by AT&T, to support municipal and public-safety communications needs. After testing this system across a three-square-mile area, the city will have the option to use the parallel system or the citywide public network to support municipal services. The parallel system will run over a separate frequency to enhance communications for police, fire and public works employees.