(2007-09-04) Earthlink Cutting Muni Wifi

Earth Link is cutting its Municipal Wifi business. As a part of cost-cutting measures to include the loss of 900 employees, Earthlink will lose its head of municipal WiFi efforts and is reportedly backing out of contracts to build out Wi-Fi networks in Houston Tx and San Francisco, as well as putting projects in Alexandria and Arlington, VA, and St. Petersburg, FL. on hold.

Meraki is jumping into the San Francisco situation.

• Jan04'2008 update

Philadelphia Pa situation

• May'2008 update: they're shutting down the working Philadelphia Pa system. They wanted to transfer the network to the city or a Non-Profit at no cost but they city couldn't find a cost-free way to operate the system. So Earth Link is going to remove all their hardware. Some interesting details from last year.

• Jun'2008 update: a new for-profit company is being formed to take over the system. Though it remains to be seen if the new company can turn a profit, its business model is not at all like Earthlink's. In addition to Advertising income, the company is likely to pursue paying institutional subscribers such as hospitals and universities. Those institutions could extend their own secure internal networks into the city over the wireless system, for a price.