City Mayor Ray Nagin launched a humming new wireless network which will initially serve the storied French Quarter and central business zone, two of the few areas left laregly untouched when Hurricane Katrina hit on August 29.

The free service is intended to lure businesses back to the ravaged city, engulfed by a flood tide in the wake of Katrina, and to send a message that it is determined to rebuild.

The service is expected to go city-wide within a year.

"Thanks to a lot of partners, we are implementing a low cost solution that creates government efficiency and gives citizens free Internet access," Nagin said.

"Now, with a single step, city departments, businesses and private citizens can access a tool that will help speed the rebuilding of New Orleans into a better, safer and stronger city."

Much of the technology, which works via wireless internet boosters attached to street lamps, was donated by Intel Prontos Networks and Tropos networks.

The new network will allow city staff to report to their home offices from throughout the city, police offers to view crime cameras or firefighters to download building plans en route to a fire, Nagin's office said.

While the city remains under a state of emergency, the connection will run at 512Kbps, before reverting to a 128Kbps stream.

More than three months on from the Hurricane, New Orleans remains a ghostly city, the bustle of downtown a contrast to the vast swathes of ruined residential districts, empty since the flood tide sent residents fleeing.

Since Katrina hit, the city's population has plunged from 462,000 to an estimated 100,000.

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