Oklahoma City network is for City use only

Municipal Wi-Fi networks made big headlines for a while and then when one of the biggest backers of municipal Wi-Fi, EarthLink, pulled out of the service, many urban areas were left without internet access.

Oklahoma City unveiled the world’s largest privately-owned and operated municipal Wi-Fi mesh network this week. The mesh network cost the city $5 million to construct and funds for the construction of the network came from city capital improvement funds and from public safety capital sales tax.

Oklahoma City’s mesh network took over two years to implement and the City says that it uses strong security measures to keep the information sent across the network secure. Unlike the municipal Wi-Fi networks EarthLink was involved with, the Oklahoma City network is not intended to provide internet access to consumers.

The network is used exclusively by City employees to give them access to over 150 different software applications while they are working in the field. Police officers in the field use laptops to connect other network and access criminal information in real time and they can download photos from the network, file reports and do paperwork from their cars.

The network also gives police officers and fire fighters access to live feeds from 300 different cameras around the city. The video access allows first responders to get an idea of the layout and view of areas in the city in route to calls. Fire chiefs can use the network to locate fire hydrants, review site maps and get building floor plans.

The network uses Tropos Networks equipment and covers 555 square-miles with 95% service coverage. Wireless Tropos outers are located on City siren towers, traffic lights, buildings and mobile routers are installed in City vehicles.

Tropos Networks president and CEO Tom Ayers awarded the City of Oklahoma City a plaque in recognition of building the world’s largest municipal broadband network. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said, “We’re proud to receive this award and claim this distinction. Our state-of-the-art wireless communication system allows City government to be more efficient and provide a higher level of service to our citizens.”