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Home > Broadband Central to launch Wi-Fi 'zones' in seven states

Broadband Central to launch Wi-Fi 'zones' in seven states

Jeff Baumgartner

Broadband Central, a wireless Internet service provider (WISP) headquartered in Utah, unveiled plans this week to launch more than 700 wireless access "Blue Zones" in seven western states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.

Initially, the WISP said it would install a minimum of 100 zones in each state, and offer broadband services as low as $19.95 per month as early as July 2003. That entry-level tier, comparable to a ISDN line, offers symmetrical speeds of up to 128 kilobits per second. Broadband Central will also offer a $29.95 tier (256 kbps), a $39.95 tier (512 kbps) and a $59.95-per-month service (up to 1 Mbps).

Each Blue Zone will allow residents within a one-mile diameter to access wireless broadband connections via Broadband Central's proprietary, 22-inch-diameter 802.11 cell sites. On the other side, each customer must install an 8-inch diameter antenna for the client device.

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