What’s really going on with Muni Wifi?
The concept I am starting to see is that everyone realizes that the first round of WiFi transmitters won't and don’t work so well, but that the selected Vendor gets access to all the good light poles (many poles can’t be used for a good number of reasons (blocking Trees, no power except at night…) and due to weight and power can only support one WiFi box).
So it will be very hard for second WiFi Vendor to come into that local market. Also on the second round of WiFi technology in two-three years, the 1st Vendor already has all the good spots and now can charge a fee for this new WiFi for ALL when it is finally a usable solution which lets you drop your cable, cell, land line etc. Vendors are asking for 5 year contracts with 2 renewals typically. 15 years! That is called Lock-in.
And by the way, two WiFi solutions unless very very carefully designed in advance will conflict, so that is still another reason why this is a monopoly in the making.
So this is a lot about light poles – it’s a backdoor monopoly. And it gives bragging rights to a selected Vendor announcing that SF went with them - PR for all the other cities in the US - many which are following SF because of the Free WiFi Google offer.