WhyFly has big plans for Delaware and beyond.
According to a DeTv interview with co-founder and CEO Mark Thompson, the Wilmington company’s system now covers 90 percent of the city of Wilmington, with the customer count expected to break the 300 mark later this month.
The 10 percent figure comes from tree cover or other obstacles to reception.
Thompson is a former chief technology officer for INGDirect, now Capital One.
Next up is an expansion to Rehoboth in time for the beach season.
The wireless broadband service offers rates that are competitive with cable without a contract. Nonprofits get the service at cost, a big savings over many broadband options.
Rates start at $55 for residential customers to $75 for businesses.
The service can be ideal for “cord cutters” who have dropped cable, but are picking streaming services that offer a selection of programming.
The company, which has less than 10 people, is looking at other mid-sized markets, Thompson stated.
WhyFly uses antennas on tall structures to transmit broadband, with rooftop antennas on homes and businesses picking up the signal.
The system will expand in northern Delaware as antennas on tall structures are installed.
The wireless technology is expected to gain broader use with Verizon expected to roll out a system in Boston that employs its wireless network.
In a previous interview, Thompson said slow Internet speeds in Wilmington were one reason for the decision to launch the company.
The city’s only broadband provider is Comcast. Verizon, which has the FiOS fiber optic system, opted to stay out of Wilmington, citing what it viewed as excessive demands from the city.
Comcast, meanwhile, is rolling a one-gigabit system, with Verizon FiOS also offering the ultra-high speeds.
WhyFly also lists are the top-speed broadband offerings as an option.