Wi-Fi network expected to be self-sustaining

Last update: December 20, 2007 - 12:29 AM

The Minneapolis wi-fi network should be financially self-sustaining by February, says US Internet, the Minnetonka firm building it.

The network will be able to fund its operations from customer fees for Internet access when US Internet signs 10,000 customers, said Joe Caldwell, the company's marketing vice president.

US Internet had more than 5,000 customers in early November, and has more than 7,000 people registered for service when it becomes available, so the company should have no trouble reaching the 10,000 number by about February, Caldwell said.

So far the wi-fi network is available to about 30 percent of the city's households, he said. The latest construction estimates are that the network should be completed throughout Minneapolis by late January or early February; an earlier estimate of Jan. 2, mentioned in Wednesday's newspaper, proved to be too optimistic, he said.

The operating portion of the network recently was tested by Novarum Inc., an Ohio firm hired by US Internet's wi-fi equipment supplier, BelAir Networks of Canada. While the full test results haven't been released yet, "we had a favorable impression of the Minneapolis wi-fi network," said Phil Belanger, Novarum's chief marketing officer.

STEVE ALEXANDER

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