Rhode Island Testing Statewide Wi-Fi

Rhode Island is in the process of setting up a wireless network that would provide statewide coverage. The $20 million project is expected to be completed by 2007, and would focus on commercial, emergency, and government uses.

The move is an effort to lure businesses away from the Boston metropolitan area, some 50 minutes away from Rhode Island's capital of Providence. Office rents in the Massachusetts city are some of the highest in the country, and a Wi-Fi network may be enough to lure many away.

Tests of the service will begin in June involving Brown University, as well as some state agencies and local businesses. Initially, the three to four foot antennas are being placed in Providence and Newport in the southern part of the state.

The final network would be made up of about 120 base stations across the 1,045 square mile state using a mix of Wi-Fi and WiMAX technologies, backers said, with a minimum speed of 1Mbps. A $20 per month fee or an annual membership would be charged for access.

While the network could have many consumer applications, the creators of the network say it is not being built for that purpose. Usage would primarily be for commercial, emergency, and government uses. Eventually, however, the network could see uses in the consumer market.

Annual costs for operation of the network are expected to run $5 million, according to a commissioned study.