Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is one of the fastest, most popular, and most widely available technologies for accessing a high speed Internet connection. AT&T is seeking approval to build new Wi-Fi “Hot Zones” in high traffic areas of downtown Palo Alto.
AT&T already has more than 20,000 Wi-Fi spots nationwide, providing high speed Internet access across the country in coffee shops, bookstores, stadiums, convention centers, universities, and hospitals. The AT&T Hot Zone locations are selected because they are in areas that have high customer traffic and mobile data use. AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Zones are primarily focused on providing outdoor Wi-Fi coverage.
Though AT&T has the fastest mobile network available in the United States, we encourage our customers to access the Internet via Wi-Fi where available.
FAQ's
Why use Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi provides a fast, seamless Internet connection at home, in the office, and in thousands of hotspots. Wi-Fi is great for downloading lots of data or streaming video, and it provides seamless high speed Internet connectivity when you’re on the go. You can use any Wi-Fi enabled device, including smartphones and laptop computers. It is free for customers with an AT&T mobile data plan or high speed Internet plan.
What is AT&T Wi-Fi service?
AT&T Wi-Fi service connects your laptop or Wi-Fi-enabled device to the Internet at thousands of AT&T Hot Spots nationwide. With AT&T Wi-Fi, you get high-speed Internet access whenever you’re within a 150-foot range of an AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spot, including most Starbucks stores, Barnes & Noble stores, and McDonald’s restaurants. You also will find AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots in sports stadiums, universities, hospitals, and retail stores and that’s exactly what we’re proposing to install around areas with high pedestrian traffic in Palo Alto.
What is an AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spot?
An AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spot is a place where you can access the Internet via AT&T Wi-Fi service. There are more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide.
Why Wi-Fi? Won’t DAS be enough?
While DAS will improve gaps in service through Palo Alto, the biggest advantage of installing Wi-Fi in downtown Palo Alto is that it will provide even faster service that automatically connects to your Wi-Fi enabled AT&T wireless device. There is no additional charge. The Wi-Fi hot zone will further expand AT&T’s network of more than 20,000 hot spots across the country.
When will it happen? Will there be any negative impacts?
AT&T’s application to build out new Wi-Fi antennas in downtown Palo Alto was conditionally approved by Palo Alto’s Director of Planning and Community Environment in January 2011. The site is located near the University Avenue commercial corridor and will provide clear, consistent Wi-Fi coverage to the northeast end of University Avenue.
The two antennas will not negatively impact the project site — visually or physically — and they will be painted to match the existing building. The sites will be visited occasionally for routine maintenance, and they will be electronically monitored 24 hours a day, for intrusion and environmental disruption. AT&T has designed the site so as to mitigate the visual impact of the development.
The proposed site improvements comply with the Standards for Review and design guidelines adopted by the Architectural Review Board.
