River Thames' banks now WiFi-enabled via mesh networking

This one is most definitely for the kid in all of us. C'mon, at age seven, visiting the River Thames in central London is probably on the top ten most unexciting ways to spend a crucial week of summer vacation, but if you could snag a WiFi signal whilst the 'rents oohed and ahhed at all the lovely sights, now we're talking. Thanks to the Thames Online mesh networking system, bored children and internet addicts alike can disregard the beauty around them and focus more on things that truly matter, as the service stretches 22-kilometers (about 12.5-miles) along the banks from Millbank near the Houses of Parliament to the Millennium Dome in Greenwich. The system utilizes equipment from Proxim Wireless -- namely the company's 100 ORiNOCO AP-4000MR mesh access points -- and adding CCTV video surveillance cams, VoIP channels, and GPS capabilities are all in the cards. Sadly, this turnkey service is far from gratis, as users will be forced to hand over £2.95 ($5.79) for one hour, £5.95 ($11.68) for a day, £7.95 ($15.61) for a week, or £9.95 ($19.53) for a month of quasi-unlimited service.

[Via WiFi-Planet]

[BowserUSC @ Mar 31st 2007 2:54AM]

I spent a pretty fun summer doing that but I can see how it could be good. I remember the trip up to greenwich was really boring so maybe that would have been a good way to pass the time on the boat there.

[godgivemestrength @ Mar 31st 2007 4:48AM]

CCTV Cams, as if we need more of those.

[illegalsmile @ Mar 31st 2007 10:42AM]

Seems to be that this is more intended for RESIDENTS rather than VISITING parents that are oohing and aahhing as well as bored children. Visiting the river itself at 7 must have been boring. However, your personal interpretation of how you would have loved to have had a laptop is not needed. There are actually MANY Places for a 7 year old to have fun at around that area. I'm sorry you were unable to visit them.

[Kevin Daub @ Mar 31st 2007 9:00PM]

I see how it is London. Implement wireless Internet after I come back from my semester abroad and paying an arm and a leg at an Internet cafe. :(