subject: Internet Access For Everybody In Boston [print this page] Boston promotes wireless Internet access, because wireless networks are easier and faster to build and less expensive than wired networks. There are 72 public hotspots for public wireless Internet access in Boston area. The number also includes cafes, restaurants, hotels, the airport etc. all intended for public use.
Some hotspots are free of charge and some with a fee. All libraries have free public wireless Internet, which are unsecured networks. It is recommended to use VPN (virtual private network) for security when possible. But also many wireless networks are secured requiring a password to access and they may use encryption. For example many college networks require a password to access college network.
Many of listed public hotspots belong to businesses having free wireless networks for customers. Sometimes even a clothing store gives public Internet access to its customers. And there is a bus company, which drives between Boston, Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia and Washington and has free wireless Internet service for its travelers on buses.
Few years ago Boston government called for non-profit agencies to set up wireless networking for public Internet access. A non-profit agency, using public donations, has built some of those 72 hotspots. And so there are wireless networking Boston Wi-Fi hotspots in several locations. Wi-Fi network is a local area computer network, which is how wireless networks have been done for some years.
But now there is also a wide area wireless networking Boston, Wi Max network, which is more like a cellular phone network. A Wi Max hotspot is able to serve a bigger area than Wi-Fi hotspot. One such hotspot for wireless networking Boston area serves whole city area including some surrounding areas. They are new subscription based services, which couple of companies compete for customers.
