Citywide web of Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is a terrific technology but its range tends to be limited to about 50 feet around hotspots - and they tend to be few and far between. But mesh networks have the potential to create enormous Wi-Fi hotspots. Smart Telecom says it has create Europe's first citywide Wi-Fi network in Cork using mesh gear.

It will be free (briefly) but Smart rather rashly intends charging soon (we'll see how long that lasts - Cork city should do the clever thing and just fund it themselves). Smart says it has its eye on another Irish city to repeat the feat, but I'm betting Dublin won't be it, purely on size grounds.

If these mesh networks are successful, they could be a real threat to Vodafone and O2, offering far better value on large amounts of data.