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Cellnet Launches Wi-Fi Initiative For City of Madison Wisconsin

Cellnet Technology, Inc. the leading provider of real-time fixed network and Advanced Meter Infrastructure solutions to the utility industry, announced today it has begun a Wi-Fi initiative for the City of Madison, Wisconsin. Cellnet will build and manage a Wi-Fi network in Madison to serve the ongoing needs of a growing population of wireless users in the consumer, commercial and government sectors.

"Cellnet has built and managed wireless fixed networks for over a decade. Our experience delivering mission critical data over our networks includes support for billing over $23 billion in annual revenues by our utility industry customers, " remarked Mike Zito, Cellnet president and CEO. "This initiative leverages our core competence in building and operating wireless mesh networks, and it's a logical extension to our primary utility industry focus."

Starting in Fall 2005 Cellnet will begin deployment of phase one of a Wi-Fi network to support users in the downtown region of the City of Madison. The network will be installed at no cost to the city, and Cellnet has secured its initial revenue from service agreements with Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Cellnet is partnering with WFI, a network engineering and technical services provider for the world's largest wireless carriers, enterprise customers and government agencies. WFI will work with Cellnet to design and deploy the network that Cellnet will own and operate.

"I made a commitment in 2004 to bring Wi-Fi to Madison. Cellnet has years of experience delivering real-time wireless network services for utility companies across the country and we are confident they are the right company to meet the ongoing needs of Madison, " remarked Dave Cieslewicz, Mayor, City of Madison.

"This network is being designed and built with multiple applications and service providers in mind, " commented Louis Kek, Cellnet CIO. Kek is a veteran telecommunication and network security expert who has been approaching services providers and other entities to take advantage of the network.

Mike Zito concluded, "This City of Madison initiative will give us critical experience with Wi-Fi that we plan to leverage across future projects as well as our existing wireless networks that are always in contact with 11 million water, gas and electric meters for some of the nations finest utilities. We're looking forward to providing Wi-Fi service to support the businesses, citizens and government of Madison."



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