Urban wireless networks set to surge

URBAN WIRELESS NETWORKS SET TO SURGE
[SOURCE: CNET Networks, AUTHOR: Natasha Lomas]
Explosive expansion in the number of citywide wireless networks is being predicted as local government and ISPs get switched on to the opportunities ubiquitous wi-fi can offer - economic and otherwise. The report The Future of Municipal Wireless Networks from analyst Datamonitor forecasts spending on citywide wi-fi in the UK and the US will swell from $900m this year to $6.4bn in 2012 - a year-on-year growth rate of 48 per cent. According to Datamonitor, municipal wi-fi can help local governments deliver on efficiency targets by lowering communications costs, facilitating mobile working and enabling the emergency services to have on-the-spot access to information. But different regions inevitably have different priorities in mind for a wireless blanket, said the analyst -- whether it's expanding Internet access to more disadvantaged citizens or attracting new businesses to their area - therefore there are a range of business models in play.
http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39167961,00.htm