Philadelphia City-wide Wi-Fi Network Kaput
Tuesday May 13, 2008
Much to the surprise of no one EarthLink has announced that they are pulling the plug on their still incomplete and poor functioning Philadelphia City-wide Wi-Fi Network. The concept was praised at the time of its original announcement but problems, delays and lack of business finally forced EarthLink to end the venture.
EarthLink has recently abandoned similar systems in Corpus Christi, TX, Milpitas, California and New Orleans, Louisiana. History will likely view this as just another failed program of former Mayor John Street.
The Associated Press reports that EarthLink "said Tuesday that it could not find a buyer for the $17 million network and that talks to give it to either the city or a nonprofit organization had failed." Apparently no one wanted to be saddled with a white elephant.
The concept itself seemed like a risky proposition when it first was announced by former Mayor Street in April 2005. Aside from several affluent areas, Philadelphia is primarily a city made up of lower and lower middle class neighborhoods in economic terms. Investing in wireless internet access is simply not something many city homeowners could consider even with reduced fee service. Even the free wireless hotspots did not work on many occasions.
NBC10's Emmy award-winning journalist Lu Ann Cahn reported on tonight’s news that Earthlink currently has only 6,000 customers for the Wi-Fi service, far from the 100,000 projected by analysts. NBC10 has been covering this story in depth for some time.
As much as this is a failure on the part of EarthLink, Wireless Philadelphia and the former Street administration it is also simply both a sign of a failing economy and of improved technology.
We all are aware of the current state of the economy and how people of all economic means are cutting back on expenses and postponing new spending. No more need be said on that.
Wi-Fi is still the ideal means for Internet access for most who can afford it. Fortunately local cable companies, communications companies such as Verizon and companies with satellite capability all provide much more reliable Wi-Fi options for those who wish to obtain it.
EarthLink has recently abandoned similar systems in Corpus Christi, TX, Milpitas, California and New Orleans, Louisiana. History will likely view this as just another failed program of former Mayor John Street.
The Associated Press reports that EarthLink "said Tuesday that it could not find a buyer for the $17 million network and that talks to give it to either the city or a nonprofit organization had failed." Apparently no one wanted to be saddled with a white elephant.
The concept itself seemed like a risky proposition when it first was announced by former Mayor Street in April 2005. Aside from several affluent areas, Philadelphia is primarily a city made up of lower and lower middle class neighborhoods in economic terms. Investing in wireless internet access is simply not something many city homeowners could consider even with reduced fee service. Even the free wireless hotspots did not work on many occasions.
NBC10's Emmy award-winning journalist Lu Ann Cahn reported on tonight’s news that Earthlink currently has only 6,000 customers for the Wi-Fi service, far from the 100,000 projected by analysts. NBC10 has been covering this story in depth for some time.
As much as this is a failure on the part of EarthLink, Wireless Philadelphia and the former Street administration it is also simply both a sign of a failing economy and of improved technology.
We all are aware of the current state of the economy and how people of all economic means are cutting back on expenses and postponing new spending. No more need be said on that.
Wi-Fi is still the ideal means for Internet access for most who can afford it. Fortunately local cable companies, communications companies such as Verizon and companies with satellite capability all provide much more reliable Wi-Fi options for those who wish to obtain it.
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