According to a recent Research and Markets report, Broadband Wireless Systems (WiMAX) Market Opportunities, Strategies, and Forecasts, 2007 to 2013, EarthLink and San Francisco have finalized a Wi-Fi contract. The contract enables EarthLink to build a citywide wireless network and Google to provide free Internet access. The emergency services of the city will leverage the communications technology.

This agreement gives San Francisco a leadership position in wireless technology. The network ensures universal, affordable wireless broadband access for all people in San Francisco. Children and students have the digital tools to ensure access to the Internet.

WiMAX is being implemented in commercial deployments to interconnect entire communities and bring the Internet to every household. Infrastructure: requires backhaul to feed wireless network, base stations. The spectrum uses licensed and unlicensed bands.

WiMAX is a strong contender for high-mobility enterprise applications. As the cost of WiMAX approaches that of Wi-Fi, WiMAX becomes the next generation of wireless broadband technology. WiMAX targets multiple-site mass metropolitan applications.

WiMAX is a lot like Wi-Fi, but unlike Wi-Fi's 200-meter range, WiMAX has a reach of 25 km to 30 km, offering a way to bring the Internet to entire communities without having to invest trillions of dollars to install broadband phone or cable networks. WiMAX can deliver favorable cost, reach, security  and usability.