Solar Powered WiFi

There’s been a big push to bring technology to third-world countries, with the One Laptop Per Child $100 laptop program getting quite a bit of media attention. However, once we get these cheap laptops into the hands of people in developing nations, how are they supposed to connect to the Internet? Green Wi-Fi to the rescue. A new startup partially funded by One Laptop Per Child, Green Wi-Fi plans to bring cheap, solar-powered Wi-Fi networks to developing countries. By using solar power to run the router, the Green Wi-Fi setup is able to function in countries with no or unreliable power. By configuring the router to limit access when power levels are low, it can run for up to a month in low sunlight. The first implementation of the programs equipment is set to happen at the end of the summer in India, and the company hopes to provide access points to other areas after that.

[SCI FI Tech]

I think that this also could see itslef being used here in the states to help power community wide WiFi. Also would be extremely useful in parks where you don’t want power lines all over… change the design to make it a bit more esthetically pleasing (hide it in a tree or something) and viola a Hot Spot in a park.

Tags: Interesting, Internet, Networking, Wireless