This is an interesting variation on the model that Fon is using. If I'm reading it correctly, Meraki is assuming that only fraction of the routers will be hardwired to the internet, with the remainder acting only to extend the mesh. In that sense, it's similar to a local, community based project (alacloud.net) that I'm working with now.
Unlike with Fon, however, there is no clear way to offer users any compensation[1], or really to monetize the network (other than something like ads). I'm intrigued to see how this "experiment" turns out.
[1] It's left as an exercise to the reader to decide whether Fon's model is a horrible idea or not.
It's very amusing the way they're just doing an end-run past all the bureacratic stuff cooked up by the city. That's the great thing about startups; they just flow right around gatekeepers.
A mess is an appropriate description for this. With Meraki's approach, I can see true headway being made. It looks like there's some appeal for the entrepreneurial crowd as well -- you can run your own network and charge users.
Unlike with Fon, however, there is no clear way to offer users any compensation[1], or really to monetize the network (other than something like ads). I'm intrigued to see how this "experiment" turns out.
[1] It's left as an exercise to the reader to decide whether Fon's model is a horrible idea or not.