Moving packets around the public Internet requires stuff like communications circuits and routers (see RoutingForBeginners). Providing these things is the basis of any number of businesses, some more profitable than others. The RoutingBusiness is both complicated and constantly evolving. I don't claim to understand any of it. But here are some good papers to get you started. Look at the references in these papers for even more sources.
The question has been asked: what does SWN have to do with internet access? That question is answered in the first line of the SeattleWirelessIdea: "Wouldn't it be interesting to walk down the street with your laptop or PDA and be able to access your home machine? Or the business that you're walking by? Or even the Internet?"
Which basically says there is no purpose to SWN without access to the internet, short of it being a completely parallel network, which will never happen, and even still, then somebody is going to have to charge something at some point which brings you back the the HUGE problem of paying $50/month for broadband. Jonathan
Jonathan -
I don't understand what you mean by 'there is no purpose to SWN without access to the internet'. The SWN is a wireless solution to 'the last mile'. Most ISPs charge $50/month for broadband. Most of that goes to the telcos. I don't have any exact numbers handy, but I would guess that 80 to 90% of the money charged for 'internet' goes directly to the telcos. So, regarding your statement of 'HUGE problem of $50/month for broadband'. First of all, I don't mind paying for a service. If I want internet over a SWN link, I would expect to pay for it. I'm not looking for handouts. SWN is not the internet, and is not looking to 'replace' the internet. We are working on providing the following types of services:
- 'Local loops' - - only not copper, wireless.
free transit. In order to be classified as a SWN node, you must allow any other's nodes traffic to pass over your link & equipment.
Thanks, EricJohanson
