Free Wireless Internet Service
WISP is an acronym, which stands for Wireless Internet Access Service Provider. These can be Wi-Fi hotspots or an operator with a Wi-Fi based network infrastructure. Often they offer additional services, like location based content, Virtual Private Networking and Voice over IP.WISP's are predominantly in rural environments where cable and digital subscriber lines are not available. Typically, the way that a WISP operates is to pull a large and usually expensive point to point connection to the center of the area they wish to service. From here, they will need to find some sort of elevated point in the region, such as a radio or water tower, on which to mount their equipment. On the consumers side, they will mount a small dish to the roof of their home and point it back to the WISP's dish.
Since it is difficult for a single service provider to build an infrastructure that offers global access to its subscribers, roaming between service providers is encouraged by the Wi-Fi Alliance with the WISPr protocol. WISPr is a set of recommendations approved by the alliance which facilitate inter-network and inter-operator roaming of Wi-Fi users.
Many wireless broadband services provide average download speeds of over 100 Mbit/s, and is estimated to have a range of 50 km (30 miles). Technologies used include LMDS and MMDS, and IEEE 802.16, also known as WiMAX, is standardizing one particular access technology.