IBM and Cisco Systems are leading a consortium of technology companies to build a vast wireless network that would blanket Silicon Valley with free, high-speed Internet access. The 1,500 square mile
project would immediately become the largest of the municipal Wi-Fi networks currently in development across the country, covering 38 cities in the San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda and Santa Cruz
counties. The tech group, Silicon Valley Metro Connect, says the service would provide basic free Wi-Fi service at speeds of up to one megabit per second, which is roughly equal in speed to DSL.
Consumers would need to buy special equipment costing between $80 and $120 to bring the signal inside their homes. A fee-based service would provide Web access at higher speeds and provide technical
support. It would also allow companies to sell premium services over their networks. The cost of providing broadband Web access over radio waves is falling rapidly, leading to the current muni Wi-Fi
boom. The group has given itself a massive margin of error for its project budget, which it says will cost between $75 million and $270 million. It includes Cisco, which will provide the equipment;
IBM, which is providing project management; Azulstar Networks, which handles network operations; and SeaKay, a nonprofit focused on providing Web access to low-income areas. The consortium was
selected by the San Mateo County Telecommunications Authority, an agency made up of cities and counties across Silicon Valley. The deal is not exclusive.
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