Metro-Scale WiFi Reality Check

From Anthony Thousend’s Telecom-cities google group, a collection of articles about the deployment of muni WiFi in the US. The articles mention some of the challenges in deploying city-wide WiFi networks and matching citizen’s expectations.

Tempe, AZ wireless network has been up and running since the end of February, and city workers seem to be its biggest fans. However, indoor coverage has been a main issue and some cities hope on the release of a device that consumers can buy to amplify the signal indoors. Outdoor access also has its challenges. To improve spotty coverage, companies and cities are is still filling in dead spots. This leads to this kind of everyday life situation:

“It told me I have no connectivity,” said Hobbs, pecking at his laptop computer. Sitting next to him, Hobbs’ friend Josh Bahner suggested the network doesn’t even exist. “I live down the street, and I know for a fact that I can’t get a signal there,” he said.

but also can be the source of poorly missing the citizens (users)’ expectations

“For cities that are promising their taxpayers they are going to have broadband Internet in the next year or two, I would say all of them are going to prove disappointing,” Lin said. Spotty coverage, fluctuating bandwidth and poor indoor connections are all problems. “It just won’t be considered what most people would find to be a good grade of service.”

More in the CNet’s Local WiFi bet.

Relation to my thesis: examples of patch network coverage and real-world connectivity issues due to physical, technological and economical constraints mismatching with users’ expectations.

Related to:
The High Expectations on Wi-Fi Coverage
Deficient WiFi Awareness Sign