Wi-Fi hot zones, also known as Wi-Fi clouds, provide public Internet access, just like hotspots, but they cover a larger area, such as that shown in Figure 1-4, and they are typically for use outdoors. These hot zones might cover anywhere from a city block to an entire city, commonly referred to as a muni or municipal network, or even a whole county.

Figure 1-4. View of Hot Zone Coverage

Even though end users in these hot zones connect using Wi-Fi, these systems typically use a different design approach, called mesh networking, instead of the traditional wireless LAN infrastructure, such as in Wi-Fi hotspots.

Along with giving citizens and visitors convenient Internet access, these wireless networks might provide a concurrent private network and Internet connections over the same system. Companies might be able to purchase a secure Internet connection for their business, and city departments could support communication services such as parking and utility meters and city cameras.

Note

Larger wireless networks such as city-wide or corporate networks provide private and public access simultaneously by using VLANs. VLANs provide secure and logical separation for both the private and public network users while requiring only one physical network infrastructure.

Following is a short list of the cities that are filling the streets with Wi-Fi signals:

• Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Cape Cod, Massachusetts

• Sunnyvale, California

• Daytona Beach and Panama City, Florida

More and more cities are hopping on the muni Wi-Fi bandwagon, trying to keep up with the digital world and wanting to attract people and businesses to their area.

These hot zones are convenient, allowing people to check their e-mail and browse the Internet pretty much anywhere outdoors within the coverage area. In some cases, users can even access the Internet in moving vehicles, where traditional hotspots do not cover.

Note

Even though metropolitan Wi-Fi networks are getting popular, traditional small hotspots will always be important, especially in towns where muni access is not available. Even in cities that have municipal Wi-Fi networks, the lack of coverage within buildings and the inability to provide perfect connections to users from every nook and cranny ensures that certain people will need and use traditional small hotspots.

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• How Users Find Hotspots
• How Wi-Fi Works
• Bridging the Gap
• Wireless Local Area Networks
• Figuring the Costs