The local area network (LAN) revolutionized the way business was done, and the Wireless LAN (WLAN) has moved mobile computing to the next level. Now another big shift is coming - to last-mile broadband internet access and services.

The primary benefit of Wi-Fi is to improve communication services in metropolitan areas and create a competitive environment for broadband services. For city governments and VARs that help these municipalities build and manage wireless networks, Metro Wi-Fi can open a wide range of opportunities.

Similar to ad hoc networks, these systems enable each user node to provide host functionalities and facilitate higher-level routing functions. Market trends are driving an increase in the breadth of new wide-area wireless technologies.

The benefits to municipalities include but are not limited to:

• Reduction of Telecommunications costs
• Focus on continuous connections rather than partitioned hot spots.
• Reduction in opportunity cost due to better utilization of municipal employees
• New sources of revenue for cities
• Scalable and cost-efficient solutions
• Increased reliability
• Broadband access for low-income families
• Elimination of bottle necks
• Support for mobile applications
• Self-healing features (multiple paths through the network increase hardware redundancy)
• Elimination of wired security constraints by supporting permanent and temporary wireless solutions.