1. Philly Considers Wireless Internet for All Mike Cheng, Eric Sung, Yuldi Tirta September 24, 2004 CS536 Data Communication & Computer Networks

2. Article Summary Current US cities with wireless coverage: – Minneapolis suburb Chaska: cover 13 mile 2, $16/month – Several districts in Cleveland: free, 4000 Wi-Fi transmitters What Philadelphia city officials are trying to do: – Turn 135 mile 2 of philly into world’s largest wireless hot spot – Total cost: $10 million, less than cost to build a small library – Deliver broadband internet wherever radio waves travel – Spend just $1.5 million/year for maintenance How? Use a wireless mesh! – Place thousands of Wi-Fi transmitters on lampposts around the city Cost to use the wireless broadband network? – FREE!! Or FAR lower than ISP companies with a much faster speed than DSL and Cable!!!

3. Why is it a big deal? Broadband and cellular providers are going down! Chance for engineers to develop new wireless applications and protocols Putting 802.11 into a test, is it really that good? How to deal with security issue? Everything is in the air.

4. Article Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths: – Talk about the impact to commercial wireless business. – Talk about the advantage of having free wireless. – Talk about estimated budget to maintain the system. Weaknesses: – No estimated project time. – Did not talk about what wireless technology that they are going to use (b or g). – Did not talk about the solution for commercial wireless business.

5. Questions?