WFI Selected to Provide Network Infrastructure Services for City of Madison Municipal Wi-Fi Project
Wireless Facilities, Inc. (WFI) (NASDAQ:WFII) , a global leader in the design, deployment, and management of wireless communication networks, technology networks and security systems, announced today that it has been selected to provide network design and deployment services for the City of Madison, Wisconsin's proposed municipal Wi-Fi network. Working together with communication technology company Cellnet, and in coordination with Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), WFI will deploy a Wi-Fi network initially in the downtown area of Madison, and eventually extend this network over the entire city. Deployment of the Wi-Fi network in the downtown area is expected to be completed by March 2006 and, after successful deployment downtown, coverage will be completed for the rest of the city by early 2007. Further terms of the project were not disclosed.
"WFI is uniquely qualified for Madison's municipal Wi-Fi project," said Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of WFI. "We have over a decade of wireless network experience combined with our ability to enable valuable solutions delivered wirelessly such as digital video surveillance, building access controls, automated meter reading, and public safety applications for First Responders. These skills and applications are precisely the combination that municipalities seek, and represent WFI's ability to leverage the technical experience from across our Company to deliver compelling Wi-Fi solutions."
"I am pleased that WFI, a company with proven expertise in designing and deploying major wireless networks, is taking part in this initiative," commented Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "This is an important new service for Madison residents and businesses."
Today's announcement is the culmination of a lengthy process which began with the release of a joint RFP in December, 2004 by the City of Madison, Dane County and the State of Wisconsin. The deployment of a municipal Wi-Fi network throughout Madison is part of the "Healthy City" plan introduced by Mayor Cieslewicz to provide Wi-Fi access to residents and to further strengthen the city's reputation as a highly-livable, business-friendly, technologically savvy community.
The move to provide network infrastructure services for municipalities is an emerging and strategic area of focus for WFI. The Company recently announced it joined with Google in a bid to provide Wi-Fi services in the City of San Francisco, and the Company is actively involved with other municipal Wi-Fi projects.
"These municipal Wi-Fi projects demonstrate WFI's vision to diversify our business base and expand into new, untapped areas where we add tremendous value," concluded DeMarco.
About WFI
Headquartered in San Diego, CA, WFI is an independent provider of systems engineering, network services and technical outsourcing for the world's largest wireless carriers, enterprise customers and for government agencies. The company provides the design, deployment, integration, and the overall management of wired and wireless networks which deliver voice and data communication, and which support advanced security systems. WFI has performed work in over 100 countries since its founding in 1994. News and information are available at www.wfinet.com. (code: WFI-mb)