Solar WiFi Brings Internet Anywhere
Meraki, a WiFi company that sells its mesh WiFi networks all over the globe, has just made wireless that much more wireless – starting in December they will be offering solar powered router to their customers. The units will be pricey - $1,500 for a model that comes with its own solar panels – although there is a cheaper version for half the price that comes without the solar panels (you attach them yourself).
California based Meraki prides itself on the fact that it serves customers around the globe, especially in remote locations. For example, a fishing village in Chile used one of their systems to provide otherwise unavailable internet access to over 1,000 people. This new solar model dramatically increases the potential to bring internet access to such far-flung regions, as it eliminates the need for costly electric installations.
However, they are also finding a solid customer base among people who have no problem connecting to the grid, or to other standard wireless technology. Companies buy their systems to use as networks, simply because they enjoy the ability to set up a private system and maintain their own accounts.
Meraki’s networks are already being used in San Francisco, where large parts of the city are receiving free, public WiFi. One reason that their systems are well suited for a relatively large and sprawling application (such as enabling city-wide WiFi accessibility) is that they employ mesh networks – a setup in which devices are linked to each other in a web. When one unit fails, the other units are able to compensate and thereby “heal” the network.
Via arstechnica, Cleantechnia