Wi-Fi Freedom

Rio Rancho has city-wide Wi-Fi access. (Well, at least for the portion of the city that is developed). In fact, it is one of the nation's largest municipal Wi-Fi networks.

The benefits touch virtually every corner of our community, from the schools system to the transportation network, and mobile first responders. It is also the first to provide quality of service, enabling a fully converged voice/data/video WiFi network. The system uses more than 400 Wi-Fi and pre-WiMAX radios to provide laptop-ready WiFi access over the more than 40 square mile populated region of the city.

Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, is freedom: it allows you to connect to the Internet from your couch at home, a bed in a hotel room or a conference room at work without wires. How? Wi-Fi is a wireless technology like a cell phone. Wi-Fi enabled computers send and receive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a base station. And the best thing of all, it's fast. In fact, it's several times faster than the fastest cable modem connection.

However, you only have true freedom to be connected anywhere if your computer is configured with a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED radio (a PC Card or similar device). Wi-Fi certification means that you will be able to connect anywhere there are other compatible Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products — whether you are at home, the office or corporate campus, or in airports, hotels, coffee shops and other public areas equipped with Wi-Fi access.