Cerritos Goes Wi-Fi

Cerritos, Calif., has approved a proposal by AiirNet Wireless to install a citywide Wi-Fi net. Cerritos wasn't able to obtain cable or DSL broadband service, so the city decided to approve the Wi-Fi solution, officials say.

Beta tests passed and the city has given permission to AiirNet to install its low-power radio transmitters. The city also agreed to pay for several subscriptions for city employees at $34.95 a month.

"The Aiirlink service can create a 3-to-30 mile 'hot zone' in which subscribers can have free-roaming access to wireless broadband. This service is ideal for a community that was considered too rural or falling just outside of larger cities' networks or has not yet become wired for fixed broadband," the company said in a statement.

AiirNet has staked out geographic regions that are difficult or impossible to receive cable or DSL broadband.

The first phase of the rollout is set for early 2004. The Wi-Fi cells will be tied together with mesh networking technology.