Mobile Internet service provider Metricom Inc. is one step closer to
providing 128.8 kbps speeds over its Ricochet microcell radios.
Metricom (MCOM)
Thursday announced its new Plano, Texas, network operations center is open for business.
Bill Walker, Metricom vice president of network operations, said the new
facility would provide the redundancy it needed to continue the firm’s
current expansion plan.
“The new NOC facility will support the growth and success of our expanding
Ricochet Network by monitoring and managing all devices 24 hours a day,
seven days a week to ensure the reliability of the entire system,” Walker
said. “Additionally, having two operation centers provides Metricom the
redundancy needed with such a significant network.”
Timothy Dreisbach, Metricom chairman and chief executive officer, said he
is eager for the day when mobile professionals could get true freedom to
replicate their desktop computing experience while outside of the office.
“The opening of the new office and NOC in Plano symbolizes one of many
critical milestones the company has achieved during the rollout of our
high-speed Ricochet 128 kbps network,” Dreisbach said.
Metricom’s new NOC became operational Wednesday and compliments its
Houston-based facility. Both NOCs provide real time network performance
management as well as technical support and management centers for its
Ricochet mobile service.
The NOCs are critical to the Ricochet system because they monitor the
network’s intelligent microcell radios that are mounted to streetlight and
utility poles to provide Internet access in motion. Ricochet is generally
available at speeds up to 28.8 kbps in the greater San Francisco Bay Area,
Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
But mobile clients demand higher speeds for Internet access, so Ricochet
128 kbps access is currently under construction in 21 major markets.
Metricom ultimately plans to expand its services to 46 markets capable of
serving 100 million users.
Metricom currently provides its slower-speed Ricochet service to about
28,800 subscribers. The firm decided to reduce its 28.8 kbps footprint in
pursuit of faster speeds last year.
Earlier in April Juno Online Services, Inc. (JWEB)
signed up with Metricom to provide its Ricochet service to millions of
its subscribers nationwide.
