Kansas City’s east side to receive free wireless gigabit network
May 26, 2016 | Bobby Burch
Kansas City is diligently continuing work to become the most connected city on earth.
Three organizations are now working to create a free, large-scale wireless gigabit network on Kansas City’s east side.
The project — led by Siklu Communications, the Urban Neighborhood Initiative and KC Digital Drive — will help eliminate cost barriers to help bridge the digital divide. The network will be available at such locales as the Historic Lincoln Building, the Mutual Musicians Foundation, several churches and the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Alliance.
The project will leverage “Millimeter Wave” technology to bypass infrastructure limitations that older buildings may present. The project will use Siklu millimeter wave radios that will attach to existing fiber provided by KC Web.
The radios can be quickly attached to building facades, the tops of buildings, poles and other points in the community to create a faster wireless extension of fiber. By using millimeter wave radios frequencies, the radios can transmit gigabit internet with low latency and no interference, Siklu said. The radios operate in the 60, 70/80 GHz spectrum bands.
“We believe that connectivity helps empower communities and lets Kansas City continue our growth as a gigabit leader,” Dianne Cleaver, executive director of Urban Neighborhood Initiative, said in a release. “While blessed with an abundance of fiber, even throughout the east side, we still face barriers to connecting individual homes and critical community anchors. Siklu’s technology will provide affordable gigabit connections throughout the UNI area.”
The new project is the latest in a series of initiatives that will create wireless networks around Kansas City.
Google announced in April that it’s planning to build a massive wireless broadband network in Kansas City. Google expects to spend the next six months delivering equipment for construction of the wireless network.
The moves have compelled Kansas City officials to become more conscious in communicating digital inclusion efforts. Connecting For Good CEO Tom Esselman recently shared his thoughts on digital divide efforts with Startland News.
Featured Business
2016 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Duo designs Paloma Post greeting cards for more inclusive representation of couples
As she stood flipping through an endless sea of birthday cards, Julie Korona couldn’t find a single one that would send the right message to her then-fiancé, Tyler, she recalled. “All of the cards that I was looking through either said ‘husband’ or were super generic,” said Korona, co-founder of Paloma Post — a newly…
Artist who won rare Jayhawk licensing deal — scoring a $150K payday — set to rebound
Seemingly routine for many Kansas fans, crimson and blue are once again among the colors flooding the canvas of the 2019 NCAA tournament. But for artist Megh Knappenberger, the Jayhawks’ familiar palate has painted an entrepreneurial journey with as thrilling ups and downs as Big 12 basketball, she said. “It’s a pretty special and unique…
Cloud platform Packet opens KC office after $25M funding round in New York
New York-based Packet’s newly established Kansas City office is expected to take full advantage of the area’s wealth of tech talent, said Ihab Tarazi. “There is actually a very good technical base in Kansas City — so here’s validation of that,” said Tarazi, chief technology officer at the cloud infrastructure firm committed to “building a…
Fast track Missouri Hyperloop: Bipartisan support for 670-mph travel builds speed
It isn’t just a pipe dream. The arrival of bipartisan state and federal support for high-speed, cross-region travel means the much-anticipated Missouri Hyperloop project continues to shoot forward, Ryan Weber said. “For businesses, this could be a huge opportunity to create a new industry, attract new businesses and leverage a much larger workforce,” Weber, KC…