Linden, Texas gets municipal-wide mesh network

On Monday, November 3, FastLine Wireless Internet turned on their second mesh network in the town of Linden, Texas (population 2,256). FastLine is the same company that “unwired” Vivian, Louisiana (see Muniwireless report from August 2003). The initial rollout consists of four strategically placed nodes which allow most of the town’s businesses and residents to receive broadband. Additional nodes willOn Monday, November 3, FastLine Wireless Internet turned on their second mesh network in the town of Linden, Texas (population 2,256). FastLine is the same company that “unwired” Vivian, Louisiana (see Muniwireless report from August 2003). The initial rollout consists of four strategically placed nodes which allow most of the town’s businesses and residents to receive broadband. Additional nodes will be added at future dates to grow the mesh network into other areas currently not served.¬¨‚Ć

In addition to Linden, another Texas town, Gun Barrel City, is in the process of deploying a LocustWorld mesh network. Local wireless ISP owner Wesley Allison is currently replacing his existing wireless infrastructure with the LocustWorld system. Frustrated with the difficulties encountered with having a point-to-multipoint system, Allison contacted FastLine and LocustWorld for assistance in deploying a mesh network in his area. Before he started to use the mesh, Allison found it difficult, if not impossible, to penetrate the dense tree cover common in the Deep South. But once Allison visited Kenny Bain, co-owner of FastLine Wireless Internet, he quickly decided to replace the access points he was using with LocustWorld hardware.