NANTUCKET, Mass. (January 24, 2007) WiBlast Communications, LLC, a local wireless internet service provider and system integrator, together with the Nantucket Police Department, will provide secure mobile broadband access to police cruisers when they are within WiBlast Broadband's coverage area on the Island using Tropos Networks’ MetroMesh Mobile system.

Working closely with the Nantucket Police Department, WiBlast is rapidly expanding its areas of service coverage to enable cruisers access to secure police databases that were previously restricted to use in the police station. It will also allow officers to send reports from their cars to the station, eliminating the need to leave their assigned routes.

“Public safety departments are depending on high-speed data access to fulfill growing public safety demands,” said WiBlast Co-founder Thor Storm. ”Specifically, they need to extend the reach of their mobile broadband data communications capabilities, and the Nantucket Police Department is at the forefront of this progress.”

WiBlast is outfitting the police department’s command vehicle which will be positioned strategically and remain stationary during emergencies with a Tropos 5210 MetroMesh router and a Canopy 900MHz radio antenna on a telescopic mast to ensure connectivity everywhere on Nantucket. In addition, police officers and other public safety personnel will be equipped with handheld devices and Tropos 4210 mobile MetroMesh routers in their vehicles for connectivity around the command vehicle, allowing them to connect to the Internet at broadband speeds and access critical data needed for an emergency situation. The new deployment extends the reach of Nantucket’s existing metro-scale mesh network that was deployed using Tropos Networks MetroMesh Wi-Fi networking system with backhaul connectivity via Motorola Canopy.

“Effective communications in public safety departments is of paramount importance to ensure emergency responsiveness,” said Deputy Police Chief Charles Gibson, Nantucket Police Department. “Broadband mobility with in-field access to critical information is a key element of that effectiveness.”

WiBlast has been providing broadband wireless Internet service on Nantucket for three years now. What started as a downtown wi-fi HotZone, the WiBlast Broadband service now reaches those areas of the Island where once only dialup Internet service was available.

“Nantucket is the latest example of public safety departments realizing that they can extend the utility of their metro mesh Wi-Fi networks with our system, particularly our unique mobile routers,” said Steve Lowe, Vice President of Territory and Channel Sales at Tropos. “We are pleased to work with WiBlast and the Nantucket Police Department to help ensure the safety of the island community and its visitors.”

ABOUT WiBLAST COMMUNICATIONS

WiBLAST Communications, LLC is a Nantucket-based wireless service provider and system integrator offering broadband Internet services built around wireless technologies. WiBlast's advanced solutions are highly scalable and designed to work closely with local communities, municipalities and businesses to achieve cost effective and rapid deployment of broadband Internet access. WiBlast also provides consulting expertise in wireless system security, safety systems and disaster management systems. WiBlast Broadband operates high speed wireless Internet service on Nantucket Island, marketed under the Nantucket HotZone and Nantucket HomeZone brand names (www.nantuckethotzone.com). WiBlast is a privately held company with a main office located in Nantucket, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit, www.wiblast.com.