Amsterdam Wireless
The AmsterdamWireless group got started in June 2002 by a group of hackers, following many such successful initiatives abroad (for instance Seattle Wireless and London's consume.net) in order to offer free access to this new technology to the citizens of Amsterdam.
'Wi-Fi' (Wireless Fidelity) is about establishing high-speed network access for your machine (usually a laptop with a special "wavelan" card) without the need for a fixed ('wired') connection, for example, DSL, cable connection or leased line. Your wireless card enables you to connect to a 'node' or access point, which diffuses the connectivity in its immediate vicinity over the radio spectrum using an antenna. The connectivity may be direct to the internet, though many wireless projects are just as interested in creating an independent network of other wireless access points. Making use of resources that are either free (the unlicensed parts of the radio spectrum) or already available (internet access, old computers and home-brew antennas) Wi-Fi potentially opens the gates for low-cost or free electronic networking, either on a purely local basis or providing internet connectivity.
As their website makes clear, the AmsterdamWireless people are not a very talkative bunch. But they have already quite a few feats on their record: for instance convincing prominent and well-situated cultural institutions to let them establish a node on their building covering a fairly large area around it. Range is limited, with "line of sight" needed between the antenna and client machines. Access to high buildings is therefore extremly valuable. A network is created when individuals who are prepared to let others use their connectivity also put up antennas. Slowly the city becomes covered with cost-free Wi-Fi access.
AmsterdamWireless actively promotes the not-for-profit approach to Wi-Fi , and by capturing a few important landmarks it has been instrumental in making it difficult for commercial ventures to launch WIFI as a business in Amsterdam. They're also very keen on educating users and access point providers on security and privacy issues, a little-advertised but potentially weak point in Wi-Fi technology.
There are more than 100 community wireless networking groups listed at the Seattle Wireless projects page, in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and wireless networking is beginning to be used in innovative ways for providing communications in areas of the world that are not covered by conventional wired infrastructures.
"Fed up with being held to ransom in the local loop, phased by fees to ISP's, conscious of community? OK so let's build a fresh network, one that is local, global, fast, expanding, public and user-constructed." consume.net, London
PR