Cisco Announces Roaming Wi-Fi (CSCO, T, SJR)

Networking giant Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) has announced the development of technology that would permit mobile wireless carriers to more cheaply move the masses of data expected to be sent over existing broadband networks. In its announcement, Cisco said it was already working with AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), BT, and Shaw Communications Inc. (NYSE: SJR), among others, to deploy the technology.

In practice, this would mean that a mobile wireless user could get data from so-called Next-Generation Hotspots rather than directly from the broadband network. Because the Wi-Fi networks are both smaller and cheaper than the broadband networks, carriers could avoid a situation where they would need to continue making costly upgrades to their broadband networks.

Cisco’s announcement is available here.