The “other Internet.” A network of networks created by peer-to-peer networking of wireless access points. An idea that has been the main buzz in the underground, punk networking world for some time. The FON project, coming out of Spain (see link below for details) seemed to come close to it, then at closer inspection was anything but.
Initially I thought Fon wanted to create a “mesh network.” The idea is to leverage the capacity of wireless access points, aka “wireless routers,” to be more than broadband showerheads (i.e., to be more than local dispersion points for wired broadband connections.) Wireless access points could be more than gateways, they can become servers on a non-wired broadband network. This would work like the Internet, but would not necessarily need the Internet to connect people, services and computers to each other.
After some research I realized that what Fon wants to create is a hot-spot coop/franchise. You can access the Internet from the vicinity of my acces point if you join in as a member. And vice-versa. You can also pay and I keep some of the money. (Something the ISPs don’t like too much). The Internet is still needed as an intermediary. It still is the network backbone.
We are thus far from the idea that if Joe- in-Seattle wants to talk to Moe-in-New York he can do it by hopping from wireless router to wireless router, across the country, without ever touching the Internet per se.
Although initially being based on the Internet as a backbone, I think Fon are also interested in meshing AP’s together to form an alternative network.
If you look at the following url, Fon founder Martin Varsavsky talks of “InterFon” as a parallel network to the internet created by meshing:
http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/bathrooms-condoms-money-and-congregations.html
Cheers,
John
Is there any difference between this system and that offered by commercial firms that offer wireless networks? FON is based on IP, relies on repeater-style (LAN-to-LAN) connections, but suggests this is socially revolutionary. How? Will this become a user-built free network? It will not be free to join. The cost of joining- buying a FON-compatible router- will shift member costs to commodity ownership rather than a service provider, in effect shifting cost of membership to an item rather than a service.
Maybe this is a logical progression, like moving from transit tolls and railroad tickets to car ownership.