By this time next year, thousands of people will be using a new, faster, longer-range kind of WiFi commonly called "super WiFi."
Super WiFi isn't really WiFi, but a new form of wireless network (also known as White Spaces), championed by the likes of Google and Microsoft. After a long protracted battle (broadcasters at first opposed the new tech), it got the official OK from the FCC last December. Since then there's only been a few pilot networks where people can use it.
But progress is being made. A key company in the Super WiFi industry is Spectrum Bridge. It just announced a new program to help equipment makers get their White Space radios approved to be sold. That means that Super WiFi is on track to be more widely available in 2013.
This follows news from June, when the Advanced Internet Regions University, (AIR.U) said that it will deploy Super WiFi on university campuses across the country starting next year, too.
Super WiFi is exciting because it is stronger and more powerful than existing WiFi. It will be especially important for rural areas and other dead spots where broadband wireless isn't available. If it can get a TV signal, the area can have high-speed Internet access.
This is expected to become a $1 billion market, similar to the WiFi industry.
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