There is something absolutely exotic about this set-up.
Maybe it’s the medieval setting, maybe it’s the history of the Hajj, or maybe it’s because the Saudis can be so hip and so anachronistic at the same time.
In any case, it’s cool.
Hajjis, as the pilgrims are called, come to the city in Saudi Arabia from around the world for several days of religious rituals. More than 2 million gather each year. A network of about 70 meshed routers from Tropos Networks has been set up to provide free Internet connectivity, according to Denise Barton, director of marketing at Tropos. Users only have to register before using it. Barton believes it is the first public Wi-Fi network set up for the Hajj.
