A startup is using a mesh network to bring free Wi-Fi to Philadelphia

Mesh networks are typically seen in areas experiencing natural disasters, political upheaval, or repression, where chaining routers together into a mini Wi-Fi network can provide a secure and low-cost connection. But one such network recently popped up in the Philadelphia (PA) neighborhood of Northern Liberties, home to a young and increasingly wired population. It’s called Bamboowifi, and its founders see it as a potential alternative to major telecommunication providers like Verizon or Philadelphia’s own Comcast.

Bamboowifi's founders, James Gregory and David Platt, come from quite different backgrounds. Gregory worked in public relations for the US State Department, handled marketing for an investment house, and started a profitable translation company. Platt, on the other hand, got a close-up view of giant Internet service providers Time Warner and Comcast before starting his current gig at a global carrier and cloud exchange. The network is for-profit and free to use, but ad-supported: users simply log on, watch a 25- to 30-second local advertisement, and get one hour of Internet access in return, which they can renew by watching another advertisement. It’s currently in test mode, with one access point that covers the two-acre Liberty Lands Park, plus a neighboring block or two.