Alvarion Deploys WiMax in Wyoming

August 07, 2006

Alvarion Ltd, announced the deployment of a citywide wireless broadband network in the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming to support the communication needs of multiple public safety and public works departments. The fixed and mobile network employs Alvarion’s BreezeACCESS® 4900, operating in 4.9 GHz for multipoint backhaul, and its BreezeACCESS 900, operating in 900 MHz to give city workers mobile access in their vehicles, including connecting their Wi-Fi enabled personal digital assistants (PDAs).

“Our rather ambitious goal for this first phase was to offer the broadest range of services of any municipal wireless broadband network in North America,” asserted Theresa Snyder, chief information officer of Cheyenne. “We selected Alvarion because it offered all the desired functionality, but at significantly less cost than comparable solutions. Building on our success, we are now making plans to expand the network to offer T1 replacement services; real-time video for security, traffic, and utility use; and countywide mobile services to give access to the Sheriff’s department.”

With the launch of the network, built by certified Alvarion solution partners, Excelsio Communications and BIG Wireless, Cheyenne’s municipal services now include centralized control of about 100 traffic lights, online processing for expedited building permits, access to GIS maps and data for firefighters and utility workers, and online parking tickets. In addition, the network provides public broadband access and online community services in parks, city pools and malls, and mobile access for more than 80 city police and firefighters in vehicles.

“Cheyenne has created large efficiencies for their city, while greatly enhancing public safety in terms of response time, real-time information retrieval and vital communications,” said Greg Daily, president of Alvarion's North American Sales Division. “This network deployment shows once again that when the cost and performance of a municipal broadband wireless network are fully evaluated, broadband wireless and Alvarion solutions are the ideal choice. We look forward to working with Cheyenne on future phases of the network.”