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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Idaho Town Gets Broadband for First Time Thanks to Proxim Wireless and Access Consulting
Proxim Wireless Corporation (NASDAQ: PRXM), a leading provider of end-to-end broadband wireless systems that deliver the quadruple play, today announced that Access Consulting has deployed Proxim's wireless solutions to provide the town of Elk River, Idaho with its first ever broadband access network. Elk River, which funded the broadband wireless network through a Federal grant, provides an example for similar rural towns throughout the country struggling to find a cost-effective means of bringing broadband access to previously un-reached areas.
"Having a broadband connection is essential to give our town equal access to all the resources available on the Web," said Margaret Patterson, the Director of Elk River Free Library District, who spearheaded the effort to secure the Federal grant that paid for the network. "We're a small town, and we're geographically remote, but that does not mean we don't have the same need for Internet connectivity. And thanks to a Federal grant and the ability of wireless technology to enable cost-effective access, we are now connected."
Patterson applied for a grant via the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development Community Connect Program in 2006. By 2007, she had secured complete funding for the network. Once funding was secured, Patterson began working with Access Consulting, a Montana-based firm that designed and deployed the network. Patterson was connected with Access Consulting via the company's involvement with the Clearwater Economic Development Association, a committee consisting of representatives from five counties in north central Idaho tasked with figuring out how to successfully bring broadband to rural areas throughout Idaho.
In order to overcome the high cost associated with trenching for fiber or copper as well as the service issues often associated with satellite connectivity, Access Consulting turned to Proxim Wireless. In Elk River, Access Consulting has deployed Proxim's Tsunami(TM) MP.11 5054-R point-to-multipoint radios to provide backhaul links across town, as well as Proxim outdoor ORiNOCOŽ AP-4000 MR/LR access points, which provide the city-wide Wi-Fi access. In addition, they have deployed ORiNOCO AP-700 and AP-4000 access points to provide indoor Wi-Fi access within the town's motel and condo complex.
"At Access Consulting, we are committed to helping rural areas like Elk River realize that broadband Internet access can be a reality, regardless of their location," said Paul DeWolfe, PE, President of Access Consulting. "In order to provide this broadband access in a cost-effective manner -- not to mention to overcome the terrain and geographical issues involved -- wireless technology is the only way to go. We selected Proxim's point-to-multipoint and Wi-Fi products because they provide the best performance and outstanding reliability at a cost much less than wired technologies."
"There are still over 20 million American homes that have no option for broadband connectivity today. With wireless technology, broadband access networks can be deployed at one tenth the cost of wired networks, making it possible to connect even the most remote rural areas," said Pankaj Manglik, CEO of Proxim. "At Proxim, our end-to-end wireless product portfolio enables cost-effective connectivity at every step of the network deployment -- from backhaul to access -- making it possible to get broadband Internet access to a broad range of locations in a cost-effective, fiscally responsible manner."
Access Consulting continues to work with the Clearwater Economic Development Association and plans to deploy similar Proxim-based wireless networks to help get other rural communities online. It also supports rural broadband connectivity initiatives throughout Montana and North Dakota.
About Access Consulting
Access Consulting is an independent professional engineering firm providing consulting services related to the design, construction, and operation of information technology infrastructure. Located in Missoula, Montana, the firm works nationwide with public sector, K-12, higher education, and private clients on projects including rural telecommunications master planning, wireless LAN and WAN design/deployment, enterprise telephone system design/procurement, and campus wired network design/construction management.
About Proxim Wireless
Proxim Wireless Corporation (NASDAQ: PRXM) is a leading provider of end-to-end broadband wireless systems that deliver the quadruple play of voice, video, data and mobility to all organizations today. Our systems enable a variety of wireless applications including security and surveillance, VoIP, last mile access, enterprise LAN connectivity and Point-to-Point backhaul. We have shipped more than 1.8 million wireless devices to more than 235,000 customers in over 65 countries worldwide. Proxim is ISO-9001 certified. Information about Proxim can be found at www.proxim.com. For investor relations information, e-mail ir@proxim.com or call +1 413-584-1425.
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