A municipal wireless solution from Nortel (News - Alert) will enable the visitors of Kentucky's 22 state resort parks to experience the historic charm and striking landscapes without sacrificing the safety and convenience of staying in touch.

 

The Commonwealth of Kentucky will use this solution based on wireless mesh technology to attract more tourists by providing free WiFi, VoIP and E911 emergency service in all of its resort park cabins and guest rooms, as well as remote point of sale at cafeterias, gift shops and golf courses.

 

Kentucky is also using a fixed WiMAX broadband wireless solution. This solution serves as a cost-effective means of doubling broadband network capacity for government-owned buildings.

 

Brad Watkins, director of Kentucky’s Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) said that even cabins across the lakes and in other remote areas of their resort parks have wireless data and voice capabilities, including E911 to enable rapid response in case of emergency.

 

Watkins explained that the mesh solution is simple and cost-effective because they’re able to manage all 22 networks from one location here in Frankfort.

 

According to Nortel, simplicity and cost savings played an important role in the decision to connect the COT Creative Services Department located in Hoge House to the state’s optical network using Nortel WiMAX technology.

 

Although this department needed substantially increased broadband capacity for high-resolution mapping of geological surveys, alternatives like leased T1 lines, microwave and fiber extension were either inadequate or prohibitively expensive. Since Hoge House is a historical landmark, it has strict limitations on wiring and other modifications.

 

“The WiMAX (News - Alert) solution gives us at least twice the capacity of the alternatives at a fraction of the cost,” said Watkins in a statement.

 

“It will pay for itself in only five months. And we can expand this solution to 11 other government-owned buildings in Frankfort at minimal additional cost,” he added.

 

Charles Salameh, vice president, Network Business Solutions, Nortel said that Kentucky provides living proof that municipal wireless can be successful. He pointed out that the

trick is to identify the right business model, the right applications and the right partners up front. Nortel worked closely with the Kentucky COT to make sure all of these elements for success were in place.

 

Tech Data (News - Alert) Corporation, Nortel distribution partner, helped one of its networking solution provider customers in supplying and deploying the Nortel wireless mesh and WiMAX networks for COT.