Comment by max_
7 years ago
This is slightly off-topic, but why don't we have WiFi networks that work on a scale as large as Cellular networks?
7 years ago
This is slightly off-topic, but why don't we have WiFi networks that work on a scale as large as Cellular networks?
Pure WiFi lacks the range. Moreover, there is very little on inter-working.
The cellular networks standards, though truly horrible, have done an incredible job of allowing a connection to jump between base-stations, and to allow a user to connect to almost any base-station. WiMax was an attempt to do something like WiFi with higher range. But it lacked the whole inter-working back-end that would allow a user to seamlessly jump between base-points.
Moreover, a network operator tends to have a lot more 'body' if only because it works on licensed spectrum. This means, at the very least, that if things go wrong you can sue it. Thus, there is at least a simple basis for trust. For WiFi access, since anyone can easily get on it, trust is much more a no go. Not just regarding malicious users, but also about simple reliability.
An incredible job at enabling Feds (and any other amateur!) to use Stingrays/cell catchers