Wi-Max deployed in New Orleans

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Wi-Max deployed in New Orleans
Posted by Mike Stanclift on 10 Sep 2005 - 20:45

In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina's destruction of telecom infrastructure in New Orleans, officials are turning to wireless broadband for use by government workers.

Intel, a key backer of WiMax, and Cisco are donating wireless equipment to aid disaster workers. Experts say this could be a good opportunity to replace an antiquated system of copper wires with brand-new technology.

Industry experts contend that the devastation of Hurricane Katrina offers a chance to build the sort of modern network that phone and cable companies have promised for years. Such a network -- whether wireless or fiber-optic -- could deliver movies or medical records at speeds hundreds of times faster than current Internet connections.

Telecom executives and analysts, though, aren't so sure it's the right time or place.
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[Mephistopheles]

Right place? maybe, right time? I don't think so, thousands of people lost all their posesions, and USA has lost 25% of their dock income, and what do you plan to do? give them wireless! come on, that's plain stupidity, leave that for when people get homes again, give them money for food and water for god's sakes, who knows how many more people could die if help doesn't gets there quick, many could die of disease in a few days, George Bush was so useless in taking countermeasures and in helping people. I hope these companies are at least sending money for the needs, also, to use wireless indicates electricity, and having 1 meter of water that wil last for around a month (accoring to what I heard in the news) is not the best place to try to use a PC or something like that.

[Gamemaniac]

I'll say is not a bad idea.

The benefits of a high speed network are not limited to does PC at homes but to the helping organisations that need to be coordinated in the middle of a disaster zone. Besides if they don't put it now they'll take much more time to change it later. About the water stuff. The water is being drained and besides there are waterproof places and equipment.

And the income stuff... acording to someguy on the radio:

Even though Katrina stopped the economic growth of the USA... By 2006 after evferything becomes nearly normal the US will experience a fast economic growth. But I do agree George Bush could have manage this in a much better way.

[Mephistopheles]

George Bush was on vacations the day after Katrina hit! and the forecast warned about Katrina hitting USA around three days before, they weren't sure about the place until just the day before, but it's still a lot of time for Bush to start action, so he definitely could have done better.

It may be a very good thing but what I meant is that people don't have food or potable water and much may die by disease, I heard there's already "colera" (I don't know the name in English, that's in Spanish) is already developing in New Orleans, and Americans had never confronted that disease before, they might or might not know how to do it, as much of a good idea it can be to install wireless, I say that they should take care of the people first, they aren't out of danger yet.

Yeah, the water is being drained, if it weren't, it would take three months, it's still going to take a few weeks though... at least to get all of New Orleans dry again.

Fact: New Orleans is the most important maritime port in USA, it holds 25% of USA's maritime commerce and is also one of the most important oil sources for USA. It actually doesn't makes USA to blow up and die, but you can't say nothing happened, as for now, at least the gasoline prices has already raised considerably.