Wireless Internet Access

There are three related meanings of wireless Internet access in common use. The most frequent is when a home or business uses wireless access to share a single wired connection (like cable, DSL, or ISDN). Almost as common is the public-access wireless access provided in places like libraries, airports, and hotels so people can use their laptops and PDAs to access the Internet. Sometimes these are free, but more often than not they require a payment for a certain limited amount of usage. The least common is for large grids created by ISPs that offer wireless connectivity throughout a community. These can either be free (if sponsored by the local government) or require a monthly payment.