Petra Systems and Palmer Wireless Partner to Deploy Streetlight Integrated Carrier-Grade Wi-Fi Solutions Across Central Minnesota

Petra Systems, a leading global technology provider that delivers remotely managed networks for Smart City infrastructure, and Palmer Wireless, a leading provider of wireless and high speed internet service across Central Minnesota, announced a project to pilot Petra’s Smart Streetlight Network Solutions across select locations in the Palmer service territory.

The pilot will demonstrate streetlight integrated VoWiFi and Wi-Fi data offloading, including origination and completion of voice calls from within the Wi-Fi network, transforming each streetlight into an extension of Palmer’s mobile network while simultaneously delivering significant streetlight energy savings to local municipalities and utilities. The pilot partnership will also help test the backbone technology needed to deliver uninterrupted network coverage, including blanket Wi-Fi in targeted areas and seamless hand off between mobile and secure Wi-Fi networks to improve service levels and overall mobile network performance.

“The increased adoption of carrier-grade Wi-Fi has played a critical role in helping mobile carriers address the challenges of coverage, capacity and network performance,” said Steve Rhoades, Chief Executive Officer of Petra Systems. “With our Smart Streetlight Network Solutions, Petra will extend the reach and value of carrier-grade Wi-Fi beyond stadiums and buildings and transform streetlights into curated, carrier-grade Wi-Fi networks that deliver VoWiFi and Wi-Fi data offloading services as a core component of mobile networks.”

Petra Systems’ Smart Streetlight Network Solutions come complete with high-efficiency LED luminaries and fully-integrated adaptive lighting controls that include carrier-grade Wi-Fi radios. These Smart Streetlights create a secure, city-wide Wi-Fi network that improves mobile network performance and coverage. The high density of the streetlight-based infrastructure ensures maximum bandwidth availability with low latency.

“Petra Systems’ new streetlight technologies allow us to collaborate with our local utilities and municipalities and gain access to the streetlights across our service territory solutions in order to enhance our coverage, service levels, and overall network performance,” said Laura Kangas, President of Palmer Wireless. “We believe that carrier-grade Wi-Fi is a key component of future mobile networks and are excited to partner with Petra to pilot this next generation technology.”

Source: Petra Systems media announcement