Contract includes design, installation, system
integration and hardware for first five municipal network deployments
ATLANTA, Ga. Jan. 19, 2006 — EarthLink (NASDAQ: ELNK), the nation’s next
generation Internet Service Provider, today announced it has signed a contract with
Motorola, Inc., (NYSE: MOT) for it to provide wireless equipment, design, installation
and system integration for the initial five major cities where EarthLink will
deploy municipal wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) broadband Internet access networks.
EarthLink has already been selected as the operator in two markets,
Philadelphia and Anaheim, Calif. Motorola will provide its MOTOwi4™ portfolio
of products, including its Canopy™ high-speed backhaul and Wi-Fi mesh network
equipment supplied to Motorola by Tropos Networks (http://www.tropos.com).
Motorola will also install and provide system integration and support services
for the networks operated by EarthLink.
Motorola will install the Tropos MetroMesh Wi-Fi mesh network equipment on city
light poles that will enable wireless data connectivity between consumers and
the Internet. The system forms a wireless mesh, routing data to produce the
best possible user experience. The Tropos networks will be supported and optimised
using Tropos Control, a suite of configuration, monitoring and maintenance
tools.
“Our collaboration with Motorola and Tropos enables EarthLink to build
state-of-the-art wireless networks that will provide these municipalities with
low cost, high speed broadband access for residential and business customers,
visitors and city employees,” said Donald Berryman, president of EarthLink’s
Municipal Networks Division. “This Wi-Fi solution opens the door to consumers
that want inexpensive and ubiquitous access to the Internet on their own
terms.”
“Motorola is involved from network design to system integration in some of the
nation’s largest and most aggressive municipal wireless broadband projects in
terms of coverage area and complexity,” said Raghu Rau,
senior vice president of Global Marketing and Strategy, Motorola Networks.
“Motorola continues to be the global leader in municipal communications
engineering and technology. Our MOTOwi4 portfolio provides EarthLink with the
solutions that fulfill municipal communications network requirements, and
enable low cost, high speed wireless Internet access.”
“The combination of EarthLink, Motorola and Tropos is poised to quickly bring
the benefits of metro-scale WiFi mesh to municipalities throughout the U.S.,”
said Ron Sege, president and CEO of Tropos Networks. “We have seen an
aggressive increase in the successful implementation of mesh technology,
leading to the tremendous demand for municipal Wi-Fi projects that now exists.
This is the beginning of a great relationship with the unique skills, vision
and market presence necessary to deliver the great economic and social benefits
this new technology enables.”
The affordability of the technology and its mobility aspects enable the
networks to reach new audiences not serviced by traditional fixed broadband
providers. Potential customers consist of ‘Digital Divide’ residents who could
not previously afford high-speed Internet service and current narrowband
subscribers looking for faster, mobile, always-on connections at costs
comparable to dial-up. Other potential customers include occasional users such
as tourists and business travellers who want economical Internet access, on
demand.
About EarthLink
"EarthLink. We revolve around you(TM)." As the nation's next
generation Internet service provider, Atlanta-based EarthLink has earned an
award-winning reputation for outstanding customer service and its suite of
online products and services. Serving over five million subscribers, EarthLink
offers what every user should expect from their Internet experience:
high-quality connectivity, minimal online intrusions and customizable features.
Whether it's dial-up, high-speed, voice, web hosting, wireless or
"EarthLink Extras" like home networking or security, EarthLink
connects people to the power and possibilities of the Internet. Learn more
about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK or visiting EarthLink's Web site at www.EarthLink.net.
Source: Motorola press release
