Wireless Leiden
Encyclopedia
History
The Wireless Leiden Foundation (founded in 2002) set up a Wi-FiWi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
wireless network in Leiden, the Netherlands, only with the help of volunteers, with some financial support by sponsors. The network is maintained completely by volunteers.
The network is accessible free for everybody who wants to use it. This is possible because there are no expenses of any importance, as the volunteers who build and maintain the network do not receive any payment for their contribution and the materials needed were donated.
The software used in the network is completely open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
. Internet provider Demon Internet
Demon Internet
Demon Internet is a British Internet Service Provider. It was one of the UK's earliest ISPs, especially targeting the "dialup" audience. It started on 1 June 1992 from an idea posted on CIX by Cliff Stanford of Demon Systems Ltd. The branch in the Netherlands started in 1996, and was sold to KPN...
, donates free Internet access
Internet access
Many technologies and service plans for Internet access allow customers to connect to the Internet.Consumer use first became popular through dial-up connections in the 20th century....
to the foundation. The Internet connection is, however, limited to the downloading of web pages.
The network can be used homes, schools and public buildings (like libraries). In many places in Leiden it is advisable to use an external antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
. In the city center, however, on most places a laptop
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
antenna is enough to access the network.
Wireless Leiden has been called one of the most advanced community Wi-Fi networks in the world.
Wireless Leiden was published as a case study of a Wi-Fi based community network in 2010.
Stefan Verhaegh of the University of Twente analysed the "Wireless Leiden" case in his 2010 PhD thesis.