City Announces WIFI Upgrades, Continued Increase in Usage

Mayor Matt Ryan announced recent advances for Binghamton Wifi during a news conference this afternoon at Despina’s Mediterranean Taste, the latest business to offer this free, unlimited wireless internet service. Since October, the City has strengthened signal reception, expanded signal coverage, redesigned the service’s log-in page, and added new public service announcements. Service usage has increased 77% since Binghamton Wifi was introduced last April, and the monthly amount of users tipped over the 11,000 mark for the first time in November.

“Providing free wireless internet is one way we’re making Binghamton a 21st century city,” said Mayor Ryan. “By improving the signal, increasing its range, and creating a new homepage, we’ve made Binghamton Wifi that much more accessible. The service is obviously growing in popularity, which confirms our philosophy that smart, wise investments can have a large, meaningful impact.”

ENHANCED RECEPTION, EXPANDED SERVICE & IMPROVED MANAGEMENT

The City enhanced Binghamton Wifi’s signal along downtown’s central commercial corridors, where the service is most used. In October, two street nodes were added to the intersections at Court /Washington Street and Lewis/State Street, and in December street node installations were completed at the intersections of Hawley/Washington Street, Court/Exchange/Chenango and Main/Front Street.

The City also began expansion of Binghamton WiFi into the Southbridge Commercial District, with a rooftop access point installed near the Conklin/South Washington Street intersection. Rather than purchase additional equipment and incur more costs, the City redeployed one underutilized access point from the four located on the Regency Hotel.

“We monitor usage very carefully,” said Executive Assistant to the Mayor Tarik Abdelazim. “Every month we review data to see which wireless equipment users are connecting to, and we make small tweaks to the network to better serve the customer. No wireless system is perfect, but I think the data confirms that Binghamton WiFi is proving to be a valuable enhancement to our downtown core and beyond.”

NEW LOG-IN PAGE, NEW PSAs

In addition to signal enhancements, the City completely redesigned Binghamton Wifi’s log-in page, giving the service a more sophisticated, hip look. The new page also includes an RSS feed from City of Binghamton, so users can learn of local events and announcements from City Hall.

The City also has added three youth-produced public service announcements to the log-in page. Created by the video/audio skills program Youth-In-Motion, the new videos use humor to caution against littering, tout the benefits of planting trees, and encourage cleaning up after one’s pets. In addition, the log-in page continues to feature PSAs on the Binghamton Local Development Corporation and the City’s Tree Planting Program.

“Binghamton Wifi is part of an ongoing effort to keep Binghamton up-to-date and competitive with other technologically savvy cities,” said Councilman Sean Massey, District 5. “Technology, talent and tolerance are qualities that researchers have tied to the economic vitality of cities like ours. We need to continue to invest in these areas.”

STEADILY INCREASING USAGE

Since beginning the upgrades, Binghamton Wifi’s usage has continued to spike.

MONTH
LOGINS

JUNE
5,742

JULY
6,974

AUGUST
9,729

SEPT.
10,257

OCTOBER
10,623

NOVEMBER
11,068

DECEMBER
10,149

% INCREASE
77%

Local universities make up a large portion of Binghamton Wifi’s user base, and with many students and faculty going out of town for the holiday season, usership declined slightly during December. The City anticipates an upswing once the spring semester begins.

“Even in the digital age, not many cities can claim to provide free wireless service,” said Mayor Ryan. “As a low-cost, low-risk investment, Binghamton Wifi is part of what distinguishes our community as a uniquely friendly place to live, visit, and do business.”

Binghamton Wifi is accessible outdoors, and low-cost repeaters help strengthen the signal indoors. These devices cost only $199.00, with no subscription fees, and they are already installed at the following locations:

Despina’s Mediterranean Taste (NEW!)
River Read Books
Java Joe’s
The Pirate’s Chest
Dillinger’s
Lost Dog Cafe
Little Venice
Old World Deli
Direnzo’s Deli
Whole in the Wall (Southbridge Commercial District)

“This service helps make our store a destination,” said Connie Barnes, co-owner of River Read Books. “When people find out we offer internet access at no cost, they come in not just to browse books, but also to grab a cup of coffee and jump on the web to do everything from work, to email, to research on other books they might want to buy.”

Binghamton Wifi is a free public service provided by a unique partnership between the City of Binghamton, Plexicomm, and community sponsors. The contract with Plexicomm guarantees Binghamton WiFi will be operational through February 2010, and City officials are confident that increased advertiser support will ensure the service for years to come.