[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Madison residents can now access wireless Internet in the downtown and parts of the campus area as the city marked completion of the first phase of its citywide wireless network Wednesday.

Now open to the public, the network — installed by CellNet Technology — currently spans most of the downtown and campus area, reaching eastward to the University of Wisconsin hospital, westward to the Yahara River and southward to the Beltline.

"After working on [the network] for two years since the mayor has started focusing on it, Wi-Fi Madison is a reality," George Twigg, spokesperson for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said. "And it's something that students and residents can all take advantage of."

Cieslewicz and CellNet President and CEO Mike Zito gathered to commemorate the groundbreaking completion Wednesday, as Madison is one of the few cities in the nation to establish a citywide wireless network.

"This will provide the kind of portability that all of us enjoy in our life, so when you leave your dorm room, your apartment or your work place you're not leaving your access to the Internet behind you," CellNet local spokesperson Eve Galanter said. "You won't be limited by your front door."

Currently, the 10-square mile wireless network will be free of service to anyone who wishes to access the network, according to Galanter.

At the end of April, Internet service providers will then offer access to the network for a monthly fee; two Internet providers have already committed to providing wireless access: Merrimac Communications and ResTech Services.

"People will be able to choose among them, and be able to choose the features that work best for them," Galanter said, noting more providers could join the list.

Additionally, Merrimac Communications President Bart Olson said offering Internet service for residents using the network is a good marketing strategy.

"We just market for Madison broadband [network]," he said. "It's mobile, and you can take it anywhere on the isthmus — indoors and outdoors."

Representatives from ResTech Services could not be reached as of press time.

The monthly cost to access these networks will range from $20 to $25, and therefore will be an economic advantage, calling it "fairly affordable."

Users can access the wireless network by visiting madcitybroadband.com, and according to Twigg, some sites will be available to residents free of cost, including the official websites for the Dane County Airport and the City of Madison.

The push for a vast wireless network will be just another asset to the city, improving Madison's business reputation in the country, Twigg said.

"This is very exciting. Madison is at the forefront of having Wi-Fi at such a wide scale," he added. "It's important that Madison is really competing for jobs."

The next step in implementing a system will be to gauge the reception of the wireless network among residents, Galanter said.

"The ultimate goal is to be border-to-border and that will depend on the response to phase one," she noted.

While the company has not fully developed a set plan for the next phase, Galanter expressed optimism in the community's response to a wireless network.

"We're very excited at the response that we've had that we've had in the last few days," she remarked. "We're confident that people will be interested enough to sign up."