News Summary:
- An estimated 60,000 Fort Worth
residents lack home access to the Internet. This community Wi-Fi
rollout provides free access to 5 under-connected neighborhoods,
home to an estimated 40,000 residents.
- This initiative is the largest deployment of Cisco
Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul for neighborhood Wi-Fi use in
the United States.
- This technology provides quick, reliable, and secure
connectivity to communities in support of the City of Fort Worth's long-term strategy for
fiber buildout.
FORT
WORTH, Texas, Aug. 16,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a strategic effort to promote
increased digital connectivity and social inclusion, Cisco has
partnered with the City of Fort
Worth to announce expanded, free Wi-Fi access in
neighborhoods with limited connectivity. At an event alongside
industry leaders from Cisco and digital services and solutions
provider Presidio, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker announced the neighborhood Wi-Fi
initiative on the expanded city network named
CFW-Neighborhood, which offers Internet access in five
Fort Worth neighborhoods: Ash
Crescent, Como, Northside,
Rosemont, and Stop Six. Deployment is scheduled to be completed
this fall. Currently, over 60,000 Fort
Worth residents lack access to home connectivity. This
community wifi initiative will provide free access to 5
under-connected neighborhoods, home to an estimated 40,000
residents.
The lack of connectivity was greatly exposed during the COVID-19
pandemic. With many people working remotely and students attending
classes in a virtual setting, the need for reliable Wi-Fi was
evident. This implementation also assists Fort Worth residents' ability to access
virtual medical appointments, conduct job searches, and apply for
social assistance and government services.
"Just like power and water, the Internet is a basic necessity
for our communities to be successful. By implementing
CFW-Neighborhood Wi-Fi in these five neighborhoods, we are
bridging a steep digital divide in parts of our City that need it
the most, empowering more residents to complete job applications,
do research for schoolwork, attend virtual doctor appointments,
complete applications for services, and so much more," said Mayor
Mattie Parker. "This is a huge step
in the right direction, and the City is committed to executing on
more long-term projects that will increase Internet accessibility
for more residents."
"As business, community, and government leaders, it is incumbent
upon us to work together to solve historic digital inequities,"
said Gary DePreta, Area Vice
President for State, Local Governments, and Education at Cisco.
"Achieving ubiquitous Internet takes a village. The City of Fort Worth's innovation in this area
and their commitment to partnering with private sector companies
like Cisco and Presidio, the local
school district, and the neighborhood associations, showcases the
art of the possible when we work together united under the common
goal of leaving no one behind."
"The value of technology like Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless
Backhaul is that it can provide connectivity to communities
relatively quickly and ensure neighborhoods are not left behind as
we work toward delivering city fiber buildout," said Kevin Gunn, Chief Technology Officer,
City of Fort Worth. "Cisco and
Presidio's ability to adapt to our
needs, tailor the technology solutions, and co-create alongside us
demonstrates the power of public and private sector
partnership."
The Fort Worth neighborhood
Wi-Fi initiative is an initial three-to-five-year solution to
increase Wi-Fi access as part of a broader strategy underway to
deliver fiber availability across the city, an investment where
fiber assets can prove beneficial for 30-50 years. Cisco and
Presidio partnered with the city
to design an architecture to achieve the highest possible
saturation, with neighborhoods ranging from 55% to 90% saturation,
deploying Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul. The five
neighborhoods were selected as part of Fort Worth's Neighborhood Improvement Strategy
which devotes additional resources to the neighborhoods most in
need.
With deployment scheduled to be completed this fall, the
City of Fort Worth's neighborhood
Wi-Fi is an extension of the CFW-Guest Wi-Fi network that is
free and currently available at libraries and community
centers.
About Cisco
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partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and
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SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.