September 08, 2004

By: Wendy Whittaker
Website: http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com

Philadelphia Could Become Hotspot For Wireless Communications

Philadelphia has introduced plans that could make it a hotspot for wireless communication. The city is discussing ways to make broadband wireless communications available absolutely everywhere in the City of Brotherly Love.

The plan calls for creating a $10 million broadband wireless communication network that would turn the city of 1.5 million into one huge wireless Internet communications hotspot. The goal of the wireless broadband network would be to bring free or low-cost Internet communications to all parts of the city. Philadelphia’s poorest neighborhoods now have very limited Internet service.

To construct the broadband wireless communication network, the city would place thousands of small communications transmitters on lampposts throughout its 135-mile radius. The transmitters would create a “wireless mesh” that would blanket the city with easy access to online communication.

A number of other cities are experimenting with making wireless communication available to all residents. Cleveland has placed 4,000 wireless communications transmitters in three districts. Anyone in those districts can access wireless Internet communications free of charge. In Chaska, Minnesota, just outside of Minneapolis, a similar communications network makes wireless Internet access available to anyone in the city for a minimal cost.

The wireless transmitters in these cities and those being considered by Philadelphia use Wi-Fi technology. Internet connections over Wi-Fi wireless communication networks are much faster than those connections made through high-speed cable or DSL phone lines. Wireless Wi-Fi network communication cards come standard in most new computers and are inexpensive to add to older ones.

Free or low cost broadband wireless communication might not sit well with phone and cable companies who charge monthly fees for wireless Internet access.

Also See: cheap cell phone plans.

Author Notes:

Wendy Whittaker contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com.  A cellular phone industry resource featuring articles, comparisons and reviews of cellular phone and service plans.