A joint initiative by the Municipality of Jerusalem, Intel (Nasdaq:INTC),and Compumat Computers Ltd., together with the Jerusalem Business Development Authority, may turn the Holy City into the world's first wireless fidelity (WiFi) city within two years. Users in most areas of the city will be able to surf the Internet wirelessly.
The project, based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)'s WiFi standard, will enable data transfer at a distance of 300-500 meters, at up to 54 megabit per second (Mbps).
The commercial enterprises involved in the initiative, and the municipality, promise that the service will be free of charge during the first year, after which fees will be charged according to the most preferable model.
The Jerusalem WiFi project comprises two parts. The first stage, which will take three or four months, involves laying the wireless infrastructure, or "hot spots" at strategic points around the city, mainly entertainment centers. Intel, Compumat, and the Jerusalem Business Development Authority, will provide funding and support.
The first areas to receive the service will be the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall, the Hutzot HaYotzer arts and crafts lane, the Rivlin-Nahalat Shiva area, Shlomzion HaMalka Street, Safra Square, the Malha shopping mall, and Emek Refaim Street. In the second stage, which will commence a year after the first stage is completed, other areas will be added to the network, such as schools, the Hebrew University, government offices, other malls, museums and public parks.
The project's initiators did not disclose the size of the project, but it is estimated that the cost of the first stage, in which a limited number of access points will be installed, will be under NIS 1 million. The second stage, in which the municipality is expected to play a more active role, may cost up to NIS 10 million. A WiFi transmitter for small spaces currently costs $70-80, while transmitters with wider coverage cost several hundred dollars each.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on Monday, July 19, 2004