New Orleans residents to get free Wi-Fi network

EarthLink has won approval to build a wireless mesh network for the city of New Orleans. Much like the earlier win of the San Francisco wireless contract, EarthLink will offer a low speed free service, along with a paid high-speed network. 15 square miles will be covered.

The free service will burst up to 300 kb/s and will run without advertisements. For a fee, a higher 1 Mb/s - up and down - service will be offered.

Users will receive wireless signals from MetroMesh wireless routers affixed on the tops of light poles. Motorola Canopy wireless links will bundle up signals from several blocks and send them to a central station.