Early community projects thumb|right|220px|The Melbourne Wireless Network in Rowville. By 2003, a number of wireless community projects had established themselves in urban areas across North America, Europe and Australia. In June 2000, Melbourne Wireless Inc. was established in Melbourne Australia as a not-for-profit project to establish a metropolitan area wireless network using off-the-shelf 802.11 wireless equipment. By 2003, it had 1,200 hotspots. In 2000 Seattle Wireless was founded with the stated aim of providing free WiFi access and share the cost of Internet connectivity in Seattle, USA. By April 2011, it had 80 free wireless access points all over Seattle and was steadily growing.
early community projects thumb|right|220px|the melbourne wireless network in rowville by 2003 a number of wireless community projects had established themselves in urban areas across north america europe and australia in june 2000 melbourne wireless inc was established in melbourne australia as a not-for-profit project to establish a metropolitan area wireless network using off-the-shelf 80211 wireless equipment by 2003 it had 1200 hotspots in 2000 seattle wireless was founded with the stated aim of providing free wifi access and share the cost of internet connectivity in seattle usa by april 2011 it had 80 free wireless access points all over seattle and was steadily growing