Drive-by WiFi

A report on the eWeek web site yesterday said that there are plans for the Highways Agency to install up to 150,000 wireless broadband transceivers alongside the roads across the UK in street lights, traffic lights and other street furniture. The primary purpose is to monitor road and traffic conditions but there is supposed to be capacity to allow delivery of consumer broadband Internet access. There is no indication of likely coverage or pricing yet but it could mean a dramatic increase in the availability of WiFi access in the UK.