SF Selects EarthLink-Google Wi-Fi Plan

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

April 6, 2006, 12:15 PM

EarthLink said Thursday that its joint proposal with Google to build a Wi-Fi network in San Francisco had been approved by the city's TechConnect Committee Wednesday night. The two companies submitted a joint proposal in February.

In the proposal, EarthLink and Google proposed a two-tier solution: a slower, open network operated by the search giant and a faster fee-based service to be run by the ISP. Previously, the two companies had submitted separate proposals during a six-week period in August and September 2005.

"By coming together to leverage the strengths of both companies, we will be able to offer services to different customers on the network that fit with their own individual needs and wants," EarthLink executive vice president Donald Berryman said in February.

EarthLink lauded the committee's decision in a statement issued on Thursday.

"San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities in the world and our combined offerings with Google, Motorola and Tropos Networks will stretch the possibilities of what a mobile network can do for residents, businesses, municipal government and visitors," Berryman said.

The company did not give any time frame for the expected rollout of wireless service in the city.

Since submitting the proposal to San Francisco, EarthLink has continued to ramp up its municipal Wi-Fi business. The company was selected to build out a network in Milpitas, Calif., as well as assisting in keeping New Orleans' Wi-Fi network running.