Regulator sees Wi-Fi as rural solution

Chile's telecoms regulator Subtel is studying a modification to the norms governing Wi-Fi frequencies to increase the range of such systems in the 2.4GHz band, Subtel head Christian Nicolai said Thursday. Speaking at a forum on universal access organized by BNamericas and data carrier Impsat Fiber Networks, Nicolai said the increased range would convert Wi-Fi into a suitable technology for coverage of rural areas. Subtel plans to make available spectrum in the 2.4Ghz range, using the 802.11 Wi-Fi standard. Nicolai also mentioned the potential of mobile networks for rapid deployment of public telephones, adding that mobile penetration is expected to grow to 60% by end-2008, compared to 46% today given there are seven million users in a population of 15 million.