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    World's first "Super Wi-Fi" commercial network launches in North Carolina

    By Mike Flacy | Digital Trends – Fri, Jan 27, 2012

    As mentioned within a press release earlier today, the first commercial ”Super Wi-Fi” network was launched in Wilmington, North Carolina. Called the “first FCC-approved smart city”, the city is utilizing the white space spectrum located between TV channels to provide wireless access across a public portion of Hugh MacRae park. Due to the lower frequency band, these Wi-Fi signals can travel through varied terrain including buildings and trees. This allows public organizations to setup equipment without the need for line-of-sight. However, speeds are reduced to 10 to 15 Mbps due to the changing landscape. While many current devices can access the network when in close range of the network hardware, commercial devices built for white space access are still at least a year away.

    In addition to covering the city park with a free Wi-Fi network, city officials are also using the network to monitor a popular city garden through four video cameras. Some of the cameras can be accessed by the public to check out the garden online and other cameras will be used to monitor the parking lot for security. The city has further plans to utilize the white space spectrum to manage public lighting, water quality monitors, flood valves and river water sensors. By using cameras to monitor areas where flooding may occur, they can respond quicker to the situation.

    While residents of Wilmington, North Carolina will still have to rely on broadband Internet services for now, potential speeds of the white space spectrum can reach up to 22 Mbps per channel with a range up to 62 miles. The company in charge of the rollout, Spectrum Bridge, believes that the white space spectrum will eventually be used to manage other city problems such as traffic congestion and energy usage. While the National Association of Broadcasters has frequently argued that allowing consumers to access the white space spectrum will cause havoc on network broadcasts, advocates of using the spectrum want to bring wireless access to rural, under-served areas across the United States.

    This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

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    FCC moving forward with “super Wi-Fi” proposal

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    FCC files net neutrality rules, sets stage for legal fight

     

    5 comments

    • the doctor
      the doctor  •  Los Angeles, California  •  4 mths ago
      free will never happen in los angeles. mayor tiny tony gets way too many campaign contributions from cable companies to consider giving his constituents a break.
      • frank pancakehead
        frank pancakehead 4 mths ago
        here in Philly Comcast built their giant skyscraper completely tax-free and ll we get is like 12 hotspots inside of crappy hipster cafes.
    • Ramiro
      Ramiro  •  4 mths ago
      its sense will be reduced once SOPA kicks in.
      • Shaun
        Shaun 4 mths ago
        No speed will increase, downloading she-it takes up a lot of bandwidth.
    • Brandon
      Brandon  •  Pope, Mississippi  •  4 mths ago
      Look, Up in the sky! Its a bird, its a plane, NO its a lost connection.
    • Mars
      Mars  •  4 mths ago
      Is anybody concerned about what all these wireless waves are doing to their bodies? They will control your brain by remote control.
    • Sam
      Sam  •  4 mths ago
      The article claims that the city is the first...but it is ONLY a portion of their park.
      And in any case, the Wi-Fi is on a band that is NOT supported by current devices, which makes it, well, USELESS as of now.
      ----
      "...commercial devices built for white space access are still at least a year away."
      ----
      This article is just irresponsible reporting...nothing more than hype.
      • IT GUY
        IT GUY 4 mths ago
        FCC approved partial Smart Park. Ha.
     Post a comment
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