Wireless, From Local to Global
If I keep returning to the idea of community wireless networks, it’s because I keep seeing stuff that reminds me of it. This morning, no fewer than three items showed up in my daily news/blog feeds, ranging from my back yard to the other side of the world.
I’m more of a "sidewalk warrior" than a "road warrior," as I can work from anywhere I can get internet access. So, I’m often found wondering the metro-D.C. area, laptop in tow, looking for wireless access. This morning I found out via a local blog, that I can find wireless pretty close to home in Montgomery County, MD, where pretty much all the libraries have free wireless. Glad to hear it. Now I have a few more options besides the hotspots at Borders and Starbucks.
I’d only just finished catching up on local wireless news when I came across two more items from Engadget. The first reported discussions between DirectTV and EchoStar about establishing a nationwide wireless high-speed internet service. Sure, they’re just talking about it right now, But reports are that Rupert Murdoch is poised to write a big check in support of the venture; the kind of money that moves discussion along and makes stuff happen.
I couldn’t help thinking about my first post when I read the second Engadget piece, which revealed (via The Wireless Report) that Google is bringing wireless internet to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stated that Internet search technology company Google has selected Abuja as one of seven African cities to be fully connected with its wireless network.
The project is one of several Google has planned for "select African nations." That is, aside from its plans for the west coast and the world.
