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Free wifi is very popular, though it makes me wonder why free wifi providers don't provide data the same way cellular networks do though 4G/LTE/etc, albeit in a
by PudgePacket 11y ago
Free wifi is very popular, though it makes me wonder why free wifi providers don't provide data the same way cellular networks do though 4G/LTE/etc, albeit in a limited area?
I don't know about the technical limitations but it seems a solution that would cover a much larger area, and most peoples phones already have mobile data enabled.
Are phones simply not set up to handle multiple mobile data networks ?
- mgraczyk 11y agoWithout significant changes to most phones, you would need to issue SIM cards to all participants. It's not impossible to change, but the provider would need to convince 3GPP and OEM vendors to do so.
- pdabbadabba 11y agoBecause doing so would require them to either purchase licensed spectrum (way too expensive) or start a virtual carrier (an "MVNO") and then either provide their own SIM cards and hope that users can unlock their phones, or somehow enter into a roaming agreement with the big carriers. It's radically easier to just offer Wi-Fi. There are also new Wi-Fi advances designed to reduce the friction of finding and connecting to a Wi-Fi network. A modern Wi-Fi network is also capable of dramatically greater speeds.