Wi-Fi Goes Long

Ordinarily, hooking a Wi-Fi router up to a directional antenna lets you send a Wi-Fi signal a few kilometers. By modifying the router’s software, however, Intel has increased that distance to as much as 100 kilometers.
The modified software coördinates sending and receiving antennas, assigning each of them specific time slots for talking and listening. Routers that implement the new system will be connected to off-the-shelf directional antennas in India this fall, bringing Internet connectivity to remote villages.
Product: Rural Connectivity Platform
Cost: Less than $500
Source: blogs.intel.com/research/2008/03/rural_connectivity_platform_be.php
Companies: Intel
Keep Reading
Most Popular
DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.
“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.
What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines
New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation
From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.