It is hard to imagine a time when we did not carrying a portable Wi-Fi device in our hands, pockets, or belts. It is a given in todays society that every human being has some form of an electronic device that supports Wi-Fi and data capabilities. At the turn of the millennium everyone was jumping on the data carrier bandwagon which allowed the everyday user access to the internet, social media, email etc. People would be able to stay connected to the digital world at a small monthly or yearly cost, mind you that at times the data service was less than par standard and finding a signal was frustrating. However as the decade moved on so did the technology, Wi-Fi services are now provided by many outlets and finding a hotspot at a local mall or train station is just as easy as swiping your credit card at the counter or finding your local coffee shop. The trend has taken off and touches every one of us worldwide.
In today’s world being connected to the digital world and having a data plan is a “necessity” . So why are North Americans willing to pay on average 50 dollars a month (which is one of the worlds highest rates), when everywhere you turn a Wi-Fi service is literally offered for free? Everywhere from coffee shops, to your local mall or Wal-Mart offers free Wi-Fi services. In every major city in North America the downtown core is usually connected to some form of data service or hotspot, even underground subway systems are mounted with Wi-Fi signals. I was able to find an interesting article online that shows in great detail how individuals are willing to dish out their own money for accessibility when practically the same service can be offered at a fraction of the major carrier prices or with no fee.
In Denmark the average package price for a yearly data plan is only 141 US dollars. The government has decided to mount 200000 Wi-Fi LED lamp posts in the city of Copenhagen , which will supply free internet in the city. http://waywire.com/video/Denmark-lays-foundation-for-pub The technology and capability is definitely available to the public and can easily be accessible to all people. An interesting concept that can be looked at is how Wi-Fi towers mounted in a city based on location and number of users per square kilometer, property and business will have an additional cost added to their yearly property taxes for their Wi-Fi service in their community. An additional 2 to 4 percent increase in property taxes would still come out to a fraction of the cost for what we in North America and many other parts of the world pay for their data plans.
One major down side is how to govern or monitor data and security. What precautions can one take or what technology is available to protect your data, what must one do to be free of over bloated costs while still keeping your data integrity secured? Part 2 of this section can be read in the blog post entitled “Public Wi-Fi Security” coming soon.
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