Wi-Fi From The Sky

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Saturday December 21, 2002 @02:01AM from the airborne-access-points dept.

Makarand writes "Some companies think that the answer to providing ubiquitous broadband access is to have telecom gear float high in the sky. High-tech blimps, called Stratellites, could be used by ISPs to carry their telecom equipment as high as 13 miles, far above commercial air traffic and turbulent weather according to this article on ABC News. At this height the Stratellite could serve an area of around 300,000 sq miles. Subscribers will merely need to put a small antenna outside and get broadband. The Stratellites will be perfect spheres and carry all electronic equipment within the Kevlar fabric and will not have any external fins or gondolas attached. Companies are already developing Wi-Fi sytems that could operate over tens of miles and these systems could be used on these Stratellites."

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First Post !! by Anonymous Coward · 2002-12-21 02:08 · Score: -1, Troll

Anyway, Doesn't seem like going backwards (getting signal from the sky, rathar than cables which got so popular in the so distant time) ? quite a ride
noise pollution by Anonymous Coward · 2002-12-21 02:12 · Score: -1, Troll

Sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me
This is an INSANE idea. by Lord+Hugh+Toppingham · 2002-12-21 02:56 · Score: -1, Troll

Didn't we learn anything from the German experience with airships ? These things are basically just huge flying incendiary bombs chock full of explosive hydrogen and helium.
The first time there is an electrical storm, these things will go up in smoke, possibly killing innocent people on the ground, since by definition, wifi airships will be stationed above urban areas.
This is yet another example of humans being too stupid to learn from their mistakes.
There's a reason we don't still travel by airship, you know!