A local presence and need to diversify beyond phone service likely influences AT&T’s intent to blanket downtown and midtown with wireless Internet. Hopefully they take advantage of St. Louis’ cooperation and provide a fast and widely available system.
The last time downtown wireless caught my attention, O2Connect established a small name for themselves in 2003 as they installed a few free wireless points downtown, but between the small unknown company and their overextended support and infrastructure, coverage and speed were weak and I rarely obtained a successful connection. That service was just embarrassing.
The latest effort will succeed if AT&T creates a strong system around the central business district for workers, the convention center and hotels for tourists, and spreads it along the loft district and new neighborhoods supporting the residential revival. I look forward to widespread free wifi.