Connecting Taipei, wirelessly

Objective

Implement a citywide public wireless broadbandnetwork named WiFly to improve digital informationconnectivity and enhance government efficiency

Approach

• HP acted as a consultant for the project’stechnical, financial, legal, administrativeand marketing issues

• HP also oversaw the design, constructionand operation of the wireless network

Results

• WiFly’s completion paved the way for therollout of other wireless initiatives in Taipei

• The successful implementation provideda blueprint for other counties in Taiwan to follow

Connecting Taipei, wirelesslyThe Taipei City Government leverages HP’s consultancy servicesin implementing the world’s largest wireless broadband network.

In 2005, the Taipei City Government deployed the world’s largest and densest publicWi-Fi network in Taipei,1 called WiFly.2 With support from HP in vendor recruitment,training, and international marketing, the groundbreaking initiative has paved theway for rapid advances in information infrastructure, e-government, and automatedpublic services.

Taipei’s vision: a technology-powered economy

Taiwan is a strategically located island lying off mainlandAsia’s south-eastern coast, across the Taiwan Straits fromGreater China. Its capital, Taipei, spans 240 squarekilometres and is a thriving high-tech commercial centre.The city is the world’s leading producer of notebookcomputers and computer motherboards.

Taipei is also home to the Taipei Technology Corridor,which consists of two major science and technology parkstenanted by high-tech enterprises. The corridor is part ofthe Taipei City Government’s CyberCity Initiative, whichwas launched in 1998 by Mayor Ma Ying-Jeou as atwo-phase project aimed at enhancing Taipei’s statusas a leader in IT infrastructure and services.

Phase 1 of the Initiative (1999 - 2002) focused on buildingthe broadband infrastructure, and providing public servicesthrough the Internet. This comprised implementing solutionssuch as e-learning in schools, providing 800 public Internetkiosks throughout Taipei and launching the EasyCardticketing system for the city’s public transport network.Phase 2 (2003 - 2006) included several key programmes,the most significant of which was the implementation ofcitywide wireless broadband connectivity.

HP customer casestudy: With HP’sassistance, the TaipeiCity Governmentlaunched WiFly,a city-wide wirelessbroadband network.

Industry:Government

www.hp.com© 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to changewithout notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warrantystatements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constitutingan additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

4AA0-8160EEP, October 2006

Transforming Taipei into a wireless hub

To reinforce Taipei’s position as one of the world’s topthree cities for broadband deployment, the governmentaimed to make wireless broadband connectivity an integralpart of life. The government wanted its infrastructure toanticipate and keep pace with global trends in the use ofwireless applications. In the long term, the city governmentplanned to encourage the development of better Chinesecomputer interfaces, content and applications to fosterwireless broadband use while allowing the city’s technologycompanies to make inroads into Mainland China.

With this in mind, the Taipei City Government announcedthe M-Taipei Initiative in early 2004. The project wouldtransform Taipei into a wireless city by 2006 by providingpublic wireless local area network (WLAN) access tothe entire Taipei populace. Taipei residents would beconnected to services such as real-time information, remotesurveillance, global positioning system data and digitalmessages with any wireless-enabled device. Whencompleted, the city would have the broadest Wi-Fi coverageof any city in the world.

HP oversees citywide implementation

Due to the scale and complexity of the project, the citygovernment saw the need to hire a technology consultantfor advice on various aspects of planning andimplementation. In 2004, HP was appointed as a projectconsultant based on its reputation and experience indesigning and executing enterprise solutions.

“HP’s significant expertise in implementing large-scalepublic sector solutions around the world placed it ina strong position to advise us on the more complexaspects of the project.”Dr. Yun-Tsai Chou, Research, Development andEvaluation Commission, Taipei City Government

Based on HP’s recommendations, the M-Taipei Initiativewas divided into three stages. Under Stage 1, 500 accesspoints were installed in 30 mass rapid transit stations andareas within a 150 metre radius of each station. Theseaccess points were installed in city property such as trafficlights, street lamps and bus stops, as well as insidebuildings. Stage 1 was completed in January 2005.

Stage 2 expanded WLAN services to other parts of Taipei,connecting 50 per cent of the population wirelessly throughthe installation of 2,240 access points around all MRTstations and Taipei City’s downtown. Stage 3, completedin July 2006, saw the remaining 40 per cent of Taipeiresidents being connected in highly populated areaswithin all of the city’s administrative districts.

Apart from assisting in overall project planning and thetender and vendor selection processes, HP monitored thenetwork’s construction progress by the city government’sappointed wireless Internet service provider, QwareSystems and Services Corporation. HP also performedquality control by conducting preliminary inspectionsand advised the city government on financial, legal,administrative and marketing issues.

The completed network is called WiFly, and offers value-added services including online TV viewing, ringtonedownloading and short message sending, in additionto high-speed access to public services and other onlineinformation. WiFly has attracted more than 40,000 payingsubscribers since its launch.

JiWire certifies WiFly as the largest wireless networkin the world

In June 2006 the world’s foremost Wi-Fi hotspot authority,JiWire, proclaimed that Taipei’s municipal Wi-Fi networkwas the largest and densest in the world. The agencyannounced the results following an exhaustive audit ofthe city’s wireless network, which they say covers almost90% of Taipei’s 2.6 million population in a veritable“blanket of Wi-Fi.”1

“With JiWire’s certification, Taipei City can now trulybe called the world’s leading CyberCity. But recognition,though important, is only the beginning. The CyberCityProject Team, led by HP, has greater and more ambitiousplans in store, including the deployment of advancedinfrastructure and the development of new applications.”1

Dr. Ma Ying-Jeou,Mayor of Taipei City

The blueprint for nationwide adoption

WiFly’s extensive network has paved the way for Taipeitechnology companies to roll out a wide array of contentand applications for mobile phones, laptops and otherdevices. The city government has also identified upgradingopportunities and devised plans for future development.

Other counties have been encouraged by the successfulimplementation to explore wireless connectivity in theircities. Taoyuan County Government, for example, hasapproached HP to provide consultancy services for asimilar solution.

In the long term, widespread adoption of this blueprintfor broadband connectivity will allow far more peopleto connect to broadband networks throughout therepublic – enabling greater access to content, servicesand information.

1 JiWire Finds Taipei’s Municipal Wi-Fi Network to beWorld’s Largest, retrieved on October 13, 2006 fromhttps://www.jiwire.com/press-taipei-network.htm

2 WiFly is a trademark of Q-Ware Systems and Services Corp.

Transforming Taipei into a wireless hub

To reinforce Taipei’s position as one of the world’s topthree cities for broadband deployment, the governmentaimed to make wireless broadband connectivity an integralpart of life. The government wanted its infrastructure toanticipate and keep pace with global trends in the use ofwireless applications. In the long term, the city governmentplanned to encourage the development of better Chinesecomputer interfaces, content and applications to fosterwireless broadband use while allowing the city’s technologycompanies to make inroads into Mainland China.

With this in mind, the Taipei City Government announcedthe M-Taipei Initiative in early 2004. The project wouldtransform Taipei into a wireless city by 2006 by providingpublic wireless local area network (WLAN) access tothe entire Taipei populace. Taipei residents would beconnected to services such as real-time information, remotesurveillance, global positioning system data and digitalmessages with any wireless-enabled device. Whencompleted, the city would have the broadest Wi-Fi coverageof any city in the world.

HP oversees citywide implementation

Due to the scale and complexity of the project, the citygovernment saw the need to hire a technology consultantfor advice on various aspects of planning andimplementation. In 2004, HP was appointed as a projectconsultant based on its reputation and experience indesigning and executing enterprise solutions.

“HP’s significant expertise in implementing large-scalepublic sector solutions around the world placed it ina strong position to advise us on the more complexaspects of the project.”Dr. Yun-Tsai Chou, Research, Development andEvaluation Commission, Taipei City Government

Based on HP’s recommendations, the M-Taipei Initiativewas divided into three stages. Under Stage 1, 500 accesspoints were installed in 30 mass rapid transit stations andareas within a 150 metre radius of each station. Theseaccess points were installed in city property such as trafficlights, street lamps and bus stops, as well as insidebuildings. Stage 1 was completed in January 2005.

Stage 2 expanded WLAN services to other parts of Taipei,connecting 50 per cent of the population wirelessly throughthe installation of 2,240 access points around all MRTstations and Taipei City’s downtown. Stage 3, completedin July 2006, saw the remaining 40 per cent of Taipeiresidents being connected in highly populated areaswithin all of the city’s administrative districts.

Apart from assisting in overall project planning and thetender and vendor selection processes, HP monitored thenetwork’s construction progress by the city government’sappointed wireless Internet service provider, QwareSystems and Services Corporation. HP also performedquality control by conducting preliminary inspectionsand advised the city government on financial, legal,administrative and marketing issues.

The completed network is called WiFly, and offers value-added services including online TV viewing, ringtonedownloading and short message sending, in additionto high-speed access to public services and other onlineinformation. WiFly has attracted more than 40,000 payingsubscribers since its launch.

JiWire certifies WiFly as the largest wireless networkin the world

In June 2006 the world’s foremost Wi-Fi hotspot authority,JiWire, proclaimed that Taipei’s municipal Wi-Fi networkwas the largest and densest in the world. The agencyannounced the results following an exhaustive audit ofthe city’s wireless network, which they say covers almost90% of Taipei’s 2.6 million population in a veritable“blanket of Wi-Fi.”1

“With JiWire’s certification, Taipei City can now trulybe called the world’s leading CyberCity. But recognition,though important, is only the beginning. The CyberCityProject Team, led by HP, has greater and more ambitiousplans in store, including the deployment of advancedinfrastructure and the development of new applications.”1

Dr. Ma Ying-Jeou,Mayor of Taipei City

The blueprint for nationwide adoption

WiFly’s extensive network has paved the way for Taipeitechnology companies to roll out a wide array of contentand applications for mobile phones, laptops and otherdevices. The city government has also identified upgradingopportunities and devised plans for future development.

Other counties have been encouraged by the successfulimplementation to explore wireless connectivity in theircities. Taoyuan County Government, for example, hasapproached HP to provide consultancy services for asimilar solution.

In the long term, widespread adoption of this blueprintfor broadband connectivity will allow far more peopleto connect to broadband networks throughout therepublic – enabling greater access to content, servicesand information.

1 JiWire Finds Taipei’s Municipal Wi-Fi Network to beWorld’s Largest, retrieved on October 13, 2006 fromhttps://www.jiwire.com/press-taipei-network.htm

2 WiFly is a trademark of Q-Ware Systems and Services Corp.

Objective

Implement a citywide public wireless broadbandnetwork named WiFly to improve digital informationconnectivity and enhance government efficiency

Approach

• HP acted as a consultant for the project’stechnical, financial, legal, administrativeand marketing issues

• HP also oversaw the design, constructionand operation of the wireless network

Results

• WiFly’s completion paved the way for therollout of other wireless initiatives in Taipei

• The successful implementation provideda blueprint for other counties in Taiwan to follow

Connecting Taipei, wirelesslyThe Taipei City Government leverages HP’s consultancy servicesin implementing the world’s largest wireless broadband network.

In 2005, the Taipei City Government deployed the world’s largest and densest publicWi-Fi network in Taipei,1 called WiFly.2 With support from HP in vendor recruitment,training, and international marketing, the groundbreaking initiative has paved theway for rapid advances in information infrastructure, e-government, and automatedpublic services.

Taipei’s vision: a technology-powered economy

Taiwan is a strategically located island lying off mainlandAsia’s south-eastern coast, across the Taiwan Straits fromGreater China. Its capital, Taipei, spans 240 squarekilometres and is a thriving high-tech commercial centre.The city is the world’s leading producer of notebookcomputers and computer motherboards.

Taipei is also home to the Taipei Technology Corridor,which consists of two major science and technology parkstenanted by high-tech enterprises. The corridor is part ofthe Taipei City Government’s CyberCity Initiative, whichwas launched in 1998 by Mayor Ma Ying-Jeou as atwo-phase project aimed at enhancing Taipei’s statusas a leader in IT infrastructure and services.

Phase 1 of the Initiative (1999 - 2002) focused on buildingthe broadband infrastructure, and providing public servicesthrough the Internet. This comprised implementing solutionssuch as e-learning in schools, providing 800 public Internetkiosks throughout Taipei and launching the EasyCardticketing system for the city’s public transport network.Phase 2 (2003 - 2006) included several key programmes,the most significant of which was the implementation ofcitywide wireless broadband connectivity.

HP customer casestudy: With HP’sassistance, the TaipeiCity Governmentlaunched WiFly,a city-wide wirelessbroadband network.

Industry:Government

www.hp.com© 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to changewithout notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warrantystatements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constitutingan additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

4AA0-8160EEP, October 2006