Wi-fi hot spots inside lamp posts
Published January 22nd, 2006 in Interesting, TechnologyThe Scots are experimenting with providing wireless internet access by installing Wi-Fi hot spots inside lamp posts. The lamp posts themselves will be powered with a solar cell, and the light will be produced with LED bulbs instead of traditional incandescent lights. The energy savings will make it possible to put Wi-Fi hot spots inside the lamp posts.
I am a big advocate of putting this sort of infrastructure in existing infrastructure. For example, around Memphis, TN cell phone towers are placed on existing high-voltage transmission towers. By using the existing infrastructure, the cost of erecting tall masts for the towers is eliminated.
Similarly, by putting Wi-Fi inside lamp posts (as well as other things), free internet access can be given to a large portion of the population.
I got a mate up there in Dundee who goes to Abertay University, he’s studying computing science i think. Anyways, he says the guys up there are real excited about this because they might actually be able to get wifi off campus for free