Google's launch of a Wi-Fi network in its home town of Mountain View may be delayed, according to reports. The company is scrambling to build more transmitters than it originally planned, notes eWeek's Ben Charny.
It's typical of the delays in getting municipal Wi-Fi projects up and running. Bouyed more by evangelism - and lobbying dollars - rather than reality, Wi-Fi projects are experiencing the kind of issues all too familiar to experienced network engineers.
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"The need for pilots of municipal WiFi seem beyond prudent," Crossman tells us.
San Francisco has additional challenges over Mountain View, he notes.
"Hills, older construction with lead and mesh which significantly reduce penetration of outside signals, and a much higher coverage requirement of 95 per cent outdoors and 90 per cent indoors are significant issues," he says.
Crossman notes that the same technology, Tropos, being used in Mountain View is also planned for San Francisco.
It's the indoor coverage that appears to be the stumbling block.
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