Donnette

The world of Wireless ISP's is quickly growing. Wireless access points seem to be sprouting up over night, showing up on more and more radio antennas and water towers. The number of companies offering cheap, fast, reliable, wireless internet is also on the rise as people seek out alternatives to broad band and fiber optics.

While Americans see this growing trend as an increase in convenience. Allowing them to read the morning news on their laptop as they sip coffee at their favorite coffee shop. Or write an email while sitting in the park. The rise of wireless internet is also providing the less fortunate with what most of the developed world takes for granted.

Kofi Annan, who served for ten years as the secretary general of the U.N., stated during his term that wireless internet would play an important role in developing countries where money and resources were scarce. Annan was quoted saying "It is precisely in places where no infrastructure exists that Wi-Fi can be particularly effective, helping countries to leapfrog generations of telecommunications technology and infrastructure and empower their people." He also went on to comment on the many companies currently working with the U.N. on bringing wireless internet technologies to those third world countries who are struggling to bring themselves into the technological modern age.

Building the infrastructure needed for fiber optics or cable internet services presents most of the poorer countries of the world with an expensive solution to their technological needs. Not only are construction and material costs presenting those considering internet services with a problem. But most existing homes and buildings in these countries are old, dilapidated, poorly constructed structures and difficult to work with. On top of that there are all the small costs of ethernet cables, and modems which most of those targeted could never afford.

Wi-Fi offers a solution that is both quick and cheap. Installation of wireless access points wouldn't take nearly as long to put in place and the cost would be considerably less. With the help of companies like Intel and the World Bank, both of whom attended the U.N. discussions, such a lofty goal does not appear out of reach. Intel has already test marketed wireless in a handful of developing countries. Should these test turn out to be a positive experience for both Intel and it's test markets, it's not difficult to see a further penetration into the third world.

The race is on to install hot spots around the world. Places like China and India present massive markets with 40 to 50 million PC's ready to be part of the global network. This number is likely to increase as PC,s and laptops become cheaper and more available. This growth corresponds with the worlds continuing lust for information.

Annan called upon those in the industry to come up with a plan for building and providing Wi-Fi for the less fortunate. He also called upon those in attendance to discover the obstacles to such a proposition and a solution to overcoming those obstacles.

Wi-Fi seems like such an obvious solution to the worlds technological unbalance. It's easy to overlook those people who live in poorer countries without the basic necessity's of the computer age. Some of these countries are decades behind in both technology and resources. Traveling abroad makes this disparity even more apparent. Finding an internet connection in some of the poorer countries is a real chore. It's a lofty goal to try and bring some balance to a world, such as the technological one, where the difference between those that have and those that have not, is so night and day. Bringing Wi-Fi to developing countries is a good start to this long and arduous task.

Sven currently deals with wireless management solutions and wisp billing