Mobile Ecosystem's lens on wirleless column has reported that Google will in 2007 extend it's current WiFi mesh network it is putting up around San Fransisco, to something that could provide free wifi access everywhere, anywhere, in the world. Sounds too good to be true, and sure has the traditional telecom operator feathers ruffled. The story first appeared on April Fool's Day, so ... hmm! However, About.com has also run a story that says Google has confirmed their plans.
Apparantly the scheme involves using old 'Star Wars' satellites from Ronald Reagan's failed Strategic Defence Initiative of nearly two decades ago ... it seems that there are enough birds in the sky to be able to link together and provide a universal internet coverage available for people with the right computer and right gizmo that will allow a computer to connect to a satellite. A bit like GPS receivers which have become much smaller, much more used than ever before, and increasingly affordable.
This kind of internet access, regardless of pesky telecom operators, national governments, and hopelessly underfunded and inadequate infrastructures, could be a huge leap forward in closing the digital divide. Hope it is true!
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