Metropolitan-scale Wi-Fi mesh networks

Standardization, widespread vendor adoption, low cost, and ease of use have all contributed to the explosive growth in Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) wireless broadband networks. Wi-Fi access is now available on most notebook computers and personal digital assistants. However, the limited reach of Wi-Fi propagation and high cost of installing and maintaining a wired network backhaul connection have limited Wi-Fi network deployments to homes, offices, public hot spots, and some wide-area hot zones. In addition, installing, managing, and scaling multiple hot spots is difficult. Dense-cellular Wi-Fi mesh networking has the potential to bridge this digital divide, foster economic development, increase public safety organizations' efficiency and effectiveness, and connect communities. The technology is making it possible, for the first time, to create truly unwired cities.