Wireless Project Helps Oakland County, Michigan Attract Emerging Sector Companies

Emerging Sector companies looking for new growth opportunities would do well to turn their attention to Oakland County, Michigan where the largest scale wireless Internet project in the United States is currently underway.

Officials recently announced the 7 pilot communities selected for a test run of this ambitious project that will eventually cover Oakland County’s entire 910 square miles.

The 7 pilot communities, Royal Oak; Pontiac; Troy; Birmingham; Madison Heights; Oak Park and Wixom were selected on the basis of interest and criteria such as available assets, technical feasibility, community landscape and sustainable service potential.

The pilot project will cover a total of 18.5 square miles, more than 78,000 people and an estimated 35,000 household in the county of 1.2 million people. Residents using lower bandwidth levels will be able to access the wireless system free of charge.

MichTel Communications LLC, a Pontiac based company, will be the wireless Internet service provider.

The pilot projects will be started up by the end of 2005. Countywide wireless Internet coverage will be expected to be completed by mid to late 2007.

“Make no mistake about it: Wireless Oakland will transform the way we do business in this county forever,” said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. “It will serve as a catalyst for new economic development, tax growth and job creation that will ensure Oakland County’s status as a major player on the global stage of international commerce.”

For additional information about Wireless Oakland, visit: http://www.co.oakland.mi.us/wireless/

For additional news information about Oakland County, visit: http://www.co.oakland.mi.us/about/news/.