How does TFA-Wireless’ network differ from other wireless Internet networks?
In most locales where wireless Internet access is available today, such as a coffee shop or an airport lounge, each wireless hub requires its own wired connection to the Internet. The cost of providing this wired “backhaul” for each wireless access point typically dominates the cost of the service. Moreover, such “hot-spots” provide a minimal wireless footprint. Knightly and Ph.D. student Joseph Camp developed the TFA-Wireless network architecture that allows the pilot network’s 12 access points to pass information amongst each other. This “multi-hop” wireless network uses only one wireline connection to the Internet, and was therefore able to provide a high level of service at a dramatically reduced deployment cost.
