RUCKUS and the City of Mesa: A Decade of Smart City Connectivity
The network equipment company deployed 1,500 access points across the City of Mesa for public internet access, as well as AI cloud management systems
Reliable internet access has shifted from a luxury to a necessity.
“ Connectivity is like a utility today – people just expect it to work,” says Bart Giordano, Senior Vice President and General Manager of RUCKUS.“ We all take it for granted and don’ t even think about it until it doesn’ t work.”
Delivering high-performance connectivity across sprawling, dynamic environments remains a complex technical challenge.“ You have periods where there’ s a tremendous amount of congestion, which results in interference for network environments,” Bart explains.
“ To keep cities running, RUCKUS provides more than just public Wi-Fi, it also supports the critical infrastructure running underneath. The reliability of our platform and our ability to adapt to a dynamic and changing environment is where we really shine.”
Bridging the digital divide in Mesa, Arizona
A prime example of RUCKUS’ s impact is its decade-long partnership with the City of Mesa, Arizona. With over 1,500 deployed wireless access points, Mesa has built a robust Wi-Fi ecosystem that narrows the digital divide and hosts smart city operations.
“ There is a dramatic socioeconomic benefit to providing rich, reliable, robust and seamless connectivity to citizens,” Bart says.
“ During the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote work and online learning became mandatory, many citizens lacked broadband at home. Municipalities like Mesa stepped up, leveraging community Wi-Fi programs to keep residents connected to work, school and essential public services.”
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The same network that delivers public internet access also supports the city’ s long-term smart city strategy, creating a scalable foundation for connected services and future innovation.