A novel remedy for municipalities struggling with Wi-Fi deployments may be found in the offing in a wireless rollout launched Monday in Billings Montana -- a project that links Wi-Fi to an existing cable network.

The trial deployment covers a one-square-mile hotspot in downtown Billings and is being rolled out by Fujitsu Network Communications and Bresnan Communications, a telecom company that serves subscribers in four Western states. BelAir Networks is also contributing products in the application.

The suppliers believe the trial is the first in which a cable company is entering the municipal wireless space. Bresnan's cable network is linked to the Wi-Fi network through BelAir100S hardware. A DOCSIS 2.0 interface is employed in the connection.

"The BelAir100S is actually mounted on, or, more specifically, hangs from the cable strand," said Jim Freeze, senior vice president of marketing & alliances for BelAir Networks, in an e-mail. "It gets power from the cable plant and has a DOCSIS 2.0 interface, so, essentially, it extends cable services over the air."

Jim Orr, principal network architect at Fujitsu Network Communications, said the deployment enables Bresnan to use Fujitsu's professional services including software upgrades and training to assist in rollout out the network. Fujitsu is also capable of providing site surveys and remote technical assistance for the Billings deployment.

Bresnan executives noted that many municipal Wi-Fi networks have had difficulties in recent months as they seek to establish large municipal hotspots. "This is a trial by Bresnan to test both the technology and demand for a wireless option for our customers," said Shawn Beqaj, Bresnan's director of government affairs and community development, in an e-mail.

Bresnan subscribers can surf the Web and use VoIP and video services in the application, which encompasses downtown Billings. While final customer pricing hasn't been firmed up, existing Bresnan customers will be able to use the Wi-Fi network free-of-charge and non-customers will be charged for the service.