Wee-Fi: Phila-Fi Developments, Cablevision Hires

Philadelphia network has 100,000 monthly sessions: NAC, which took over Phila.’s network from EarthLink, has assumed full control at the end of a 3-month transition period, Wi-Fi Planet reports. The company said that sessions average 4 hours. The new owners are looking to entice Phila. to have them build a wireless public-safety network and offer business services as well. While NAC’s head Derek Pew say that EarthLink didn’t focus on “municipal and commercial usage,” I’d argue that the statement is half right: EarthLink’s plan was to offer such service, and their networks were built with that in mind; they just didn’t get enough traction, such as a complete and well-functioning network, that would have allowed them to take the next step. NAC estimates a full best-effort Wi-Fi network will be finished in 12 to 18 months.

Cablevision announces Wi-Fi executives: I normally don’t cover routine press releases that note that so-and-so has joined or left a certain company. But with Craig Plunkett, that’s different. Craig has been doggedly building and running Wi-Fi networks in Long Island, Fire Island, and elsewhere in New York for several years, and co-developed the Wi-Fi on wheels system Wi-RAN. He’s joining Cablevision, the folks with a $300m budget to build outdoor network for their cable data customers, as the VP of Wireless Market Development. Cablevision also snagged Tim Farrell (VP, Wireless Product Development), who had a similar role at Boingo Wireless. Craig and I have corresponded an enormous amount over the years, and he’s the best person who could hired for this position, given his experience, especially specific to Long Island.

Cablevision Activates Major Areas of Its Wi-Fi Network
Premature Update on Philadelphia Wi-Fi
Janet Jackson parts ways with Island Def Jam
(Reuters)