[GNUz] The Future of Community Wireless

[Rik Tindall]

Don Gould wrote:
> 
> Oh what a jolly joy germ :)
> 
> Yes I agree... if the only reason for wifi networks is to get internet 
> then it's pointless...
> 
> Au has a very different bb market to NZ now.  They also have some 
> annoying laws that make using it for profit much more painful.
> 
> Mobile networks are cheaper as well in Au.  Syd has 6 or more mobile 
> providers with competition everywhere.
> 
> There are also two other wireless networks with budget plans.
> 
> Building wifi is fun and a fantastic learning exercise.  As kiwi's we 
> need to do it so we learn and give our selves a technology advantage.
> 
> Cheers Don

A very good answer, drawn from travelled experience. Thanks Don.

There's also the point of FOSS serving, offering valuable but free 
content - effectively sharing scarce bandwidth by redistributing 
downloads. A potential alternative to broadband for the low-waged of the 
*nix community, at least. Wealthier/M$ users would never see the same 
value in it tho. Hence real community development - rather than of a 
market - is central to the project.

Cheers
-- 
Rik