St. Louis to offer free wireless Internet network to lure business and residents downtown

The city of St. Louis is setting up what could be the nation’s largest, free, wireless Internet network in hopes of drawing techno-savvy businesses, tourists and residents to the downtown business district.

USA Today

The city has teamed up with a local company, O2Connect, to offer the service in a 42-square-block area.

On Wednesday, a city crew mounted and activated the first of six antennae that will transmit an invisible, high-frequency radio signal that can be used to get online. The rest should be in place by month’s end.

Civic boosters envision video-gamers playing in the parks, local and visiting business people checking e-mail in the streets, and Web-surfers lounging at sidewalk cafes.

"It’s symbolic that we’re really up-to-date downtown," said Jim Cloar, president and chief executive of the Downtown St. Louis Partnership, a nonprofit group that promotes economic development and urban living.

"And it gives us one more sales tool. We’re just being more technologically proficient, being more customer-friendly and making downtown a better place to do business and a better place to visit, either as a conventioneer or just as a (tourist)," he said. "You won’t have to worry about having the capability to stay in touch, either by e-mail or using the Web."

About 4.2 million people in North America are frequent users of such networks, and the number is expected to grow to more than 31 million in 2007, the city said.

Coffee houses and cafes commonly offer such networks, but they charge customers to log on. "It’s fairly new technology. But it’s been getting a lot of press lately, and people are starting to understand. People are getting more and more excited about it," said Tim O’Leary, president of O2Connect.

The small, 3-year-old company is donating $25,000 worth of equipment to set up the downtown hot spot.

In April, O2Connect built a much smaller, free network in the city’s Central West End. Usage is increasing and O’Leary expects a similar quick uptake downtown.

City officials said the project should help St. Louis build a high-tech reputation — and business sector.

"The mayor’s expectation is that we will make St. Louis a competitive global technology center," said Chris Dornfeld of the city. "It’s a great challenge, but when you look at the breadth and density of technology in St. Louis, you can quickly realize it is achievable."

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-07-24-wireless-stlouis_x.htm