MuniWireless

Reading the US mainstream press gives you the impression that deployments of municipal wireless networks came to a complete halt when EarthLink pulled out of the business. While it’s true that the rush to deploy municipal wireless in the US has died down, the opposite is happening in Asia – especially China – where cities are rolling out large-scale Wi-Fi networks in partnership with local carriers. The latest city to announce the completion of a municipal wireless network is Hangzhou…

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China, has completed the first phase of a citywide wireless broadband network. Wi-Fi access is now available along the main traffic routes and popular tourist areas. The local government expects the network to be finished by 2010. Wasu Digital TV Co., the service provider, claims they will be able to provide digital TV even to users in moving vehicles (up to speeds of 40 kph). I am very skeptical of any claims…