Milwaukee to build citywide W-Fi

The city of Milwaukee, Wisc., announced plans to deploy citywide Wi-Fi, with the help of Midwest Fiber Networks. The project will run some $20 to $25 million but taxpayers will not have to pay a dime.

Nik Ivancevic, partner at Midwest Fiber Networks, said the company approached city officials with the idea to develop the network. He said the company, which designs, develops and implements fiber networks and wireless broadband access, has an existing relationship with the city.

"It’s been very well-received," he said.

The company, which would build and manage the network, has several private-sector partners lined up to provide services to the city. He said city officials would negotiate with those partners to determine which services the city needs. He said he hoped the project would be completed by early 2007.