The City of Venice, Italy, held an event last Friday to launch the first wireless broadband network in this historical city. The Tropos-based wireless network provides public Internet access and “digital citizenship” to residents and local businesses; access for tourists for local information and activities; and will help the City to modernize services. “Many European cities have Wi-Fi; no other has this kind of wide coverage,” said Michele Vianello, vice mayor of Venice, who was also responsible for leading the project. “The fast Wi-Fi, between 20 and 100 megabytes, will enable development of e-commerce, freeing the heart of the old city from unsightly antennas. It should also provide a big competitive advantage for business,” Vianello added.

Wireless Internet access is now available for free to residents, students and businesses of Venice. In his public address, Vianello encouraged citizens to try the community network that would not have been possible without their support. Tourists and visitors will be offered access to the network for 5 Euros a day through the Venice Connect website (http://www.veniceconnected.com/node/301). The service will enable tourists to have broader access to local information as they walk around the City or ride a gondola through the Grand Canal, increasing awareness of local goods and services.

In addition to using the network for public access, the City plans to securely use the same network to modernize city operations, improving efficiencies and communications. City departments that will use the network include police and the traffic department. Currently, the network covers approximately 7 km along the Grand Canal and includes coverage at many of the popular piazzas and parks. Longer term plans include extending the network to the Marco Polo International Airport to provide travelers easy access to the Internet while they are in and around the airport.

The network launch events began with a unique ribbon cutting ceremony held aboard a boat moving through the Grand Canal; passengers included dignitaries, news agencies and guests. Those on board were invited to connect to the network from their mobile Wi-Fi enabled devices to demonstrate the ease in accessing the Internet and maintaining connectivity while the boat moved through the canal. In the evening, festivities continued as the City hosted an interactive digital Wi-Fi treasure hunt, "Whaiwhai", with participation from a team of youths from Venice and Mestre. Each team boarded one of two boats and using mobile Wi-Fi devices, connected to the Internet for clues that guided them to the location of their next clue. Throughout the day on July 3^rd, the Tropos wireless network recorded an impressive 2,679 users who connected to the network, downloading 20 gigabytes and uploading 6 gigabytes of information.

The City purchased the Tropos network, which was designed and installed by Vitrociset, a Rome-based system integrator. Venis Spa, a local ICT management and development company, will operate and maintain network operations on behalf of the City.

“We are excited to have been selected to help bring first-time wireless broadband to a remarkable historical venue such as Venice,” said Tom Ayers, president and CEO of Tropos Networks. “Based upon the experience of our customers, I have seen how an IP foundation can help benefit a community in so many ways from improving the local economy and experience of visitors to enhancing City services from traffic management to public safety.”

About Tropos Networks.

Tropos® Networks is the worldwide market leader in wireless IP broadband mesh networks that enable customers to own and control a smart, affordable, IP foundation for deploying applications and services that build greener, safer, smarter communities. Tropos has more than 750 customers in over 30 countries around the world using the patented Tropos System Architecture to build Smart Cities and Smart Grids that are reliable, scalable and secure. Founded in 2000, Tropos is headquartered in the United States in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, please visit www.tropos.com, or email to info@tropos.com. Tropos is a registered trademark and Greener, Safer, Smarter is a trademark of Tropos Networks, Inc.

All other brand or product names, trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective holder(s).

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6000432&lang=en