Taipei aims to be world's first fully Wi-Fi city

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 5 Nov 2004 at 13:20

Taipei is set to win the race to become the world's first fully Wi-Fi connected city. The wireless network planned by the city's government will provide 90 per cent coverage for its 3 million inhabitants and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2005.

The capital of Taiwan, and the powerhouse for the country's high-tech industries, will enjoy up to 20,000 access points around the city, reports Reuters. The ultimate goal is to make Internet access as simple and ubiquitous as mobile telephony. Infrastructure costs are estimated at $70mn and users will be charged for access.

'In most cities in the world the coverage is small, but Taipei's (network) is designed for a population of 2.6 million,' the news agency quotes Andy Lai, a project leader for HP, which is working with the Taipei City Government.

Unsurprisingly, San Francisco is also in the race to be fully unwired. The city famous for the hippies of Haight Ashbury intends its Internet connections to be free. The city's mayor has declared his intent to create free wireless access across the city.

'We will not stop until every San Franciscan has access to free wireless Internet service,' said Mayor Gavin Newsom in a recent state of the city address. 'These technologies will connect our residents to the skills and the jobs of the new economy.'

New York, Amsterdam and San Jose are also in the running for city-wide Wi-Fi coverage.

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