It's Time for Cities to Deploy Emergency Wi-Fi Strategies

The nightmarish events of this week remind us how vital communications are during a disaster. People need information in an emergency, and with the prevalence of mobile devices, Wi-Fi is often the best way to get that information during a crisis. After the bombings in Boston this week, people reached for their mobile devices to contact loved ones or gather information. Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms lit up with warnings to text rather than call in order to save bandwidth, as well as requests for people to open up closed Wi-Fi networks. There were conflicting reports about whether cellular networks were shut down to avoid the remote detonation of more explosives, but ultimately the carriers confirmed that networks were just congested. Communications, understandably, became chaotic. In New York, we saw it with 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, and the Northeastern blackout of 2003. This is why urban planners and government officials need to take a hard, serious look at offering citizens blanket, municipal Wi-Fi connectivity in times of crisis.