In anticipation of big sporting events and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, Cisco and a host of local non-profit and government partners equipped an area of the City of Los Angeles with free public Wi-Fi. This had and added bonus of advancing the municipality’s connectivity goals.
The Wi-Fi network in the Crenshaw area of the city employs Cisco access points and backhaul technology. The company stated the system would boost access to the internet and help close a digital divide, along with advancing a fibre deployment plan for the urban area.
Cisco stated the Crenshaw Community Connectivity Pilot is the culmination of a collaboration between government, industry and non-profit groups spanning several years.
City of Los Angeles officials hailed it as an example of what can be achieved through such partnerships: its mayor Karen Bass highlighted the potential to “bridge the digital divide” and council president Marqueece Harris-Dawson branded it a “blueprint for other cities”.
The Wi-Fi connectivity uses 1.5 miles of fibre installed by the LA Bureau of Street Lighting, which tapped Cisco for cloud-managed outdoor access points and the backhaul set-up.
Access is available in public spaces and is expected to provide the boost needed to connect a host of forthcoming sporting events scheduled to take place in the city.
Cisco worked with the city, Destination Crenshaw, the California Community Foundation and Digital Equity LA.
Gary DePreta, SVP for US Public Sector at Cisco, said the initiative will deliver long-lasting benefits to the city, setting it up with “the connectivity platform needed for future public sector innovation. Greater internet access directly translates to educational and economic opportunity”.
Cisco stated the project advances the municipality’s smart city and public service delivery goals.
Source: Mobile World Live
Image Credit: Stock Image
