Charging for WiFi Internet access in UK

[SUnderwood]

Just a thought people.

Does anyone know if one is allowed to make available ones internet connection via WiFi and charge for access in the UK, without a license, much like our American friends?

Regards

Sean Underwood

 

[manarth]

check the T&Cs of your broadband supplier - most companies don't allow you to act as a "reseller" or to share your connection. of course - what they don't know!

otherwise, there is no legal restriction.

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[bcastner]

You might check the WISP, Wireless Internet Service Provider of this Forum, it is a key resource on the hows and howtos for this topic:

http://www.broadbandreports.com

Click Forums, and look for Wireless Internet Provider forum.

 

[SUnderwood]

Thanks for the help guys.

Being that there are no legal restriction to share ADSL lines via WiFi and charge for it (aside the T&Cs) I am wondering why WiFi is taking us Brits SO LONG to take economic advantage of it.

OK, Wifi equipment may not be cheap, but over the usual price of ADSL (monthly cost + installation charge) WiFi is within domestic and company abilities, from which revenues from neighbours can start easily coming in through sharing your connection.

Looks like I'm gonna have to take the lead ;-)) Underwood Networks coming to a street near you, te he. |dream. Ok, time to make a business model ;-)

Many thanks

 

[manarth]

&quot;Become a wireless ISP for £300&quot; - full story: (courtesy of the register)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/69/28972.html

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[SUnderwood]

Yes, I read that a while ago. Excellent idea, though a little pricey. It aimed at free community networks rather than commercial purposes, but I do like their Mesh approach.

 

[bcastner]

Please be sure to look at the Wireless forum link at broadbandreport given earlier.

The economics of it are one thing; the practical matter another. It is hard to recover the first-time costs to a customer for the equipment.

And one customer running Kazaa, or bitorrent, or mIRC or eDonkey will kill everyone else unless throttled. And once you lose a customer for slow pings and access problems they are lost to you forever.

 

[SUnderwood]

bcastner, I am studiously reading through the broadbandreport right now :-D When things look &quot;too good to be true&quot; I know there is something I have missed out. Regards.

 

[bcastner]

Best of luck.

The broadbandreports Forum is the best I have seen to find, ask or whatever for what you want to try.

They have been there, and whether it worked or not I have found them very generous about what to do, avoid, or not do.

My personal best of luck in your research and venture.