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Another metro-area WiFi network starts gestating in Hamilton, Canada

Electricity and gas metering will be done by WiFi, if the city of Hamilton  in Canada goes ahead with the "giant hotspot" plan which it is currently testing, according to a local paper.

The city is described as "the tenth largest in the country" by the report, and the plan to turn the whole town into a hotspot comes, not from the communications authorities, but from the utility company, Utilities Corp.

The report quotes Art Leitch, ceo of Utilities, as saying the WiFi solution is currently under test, and that it will be used primarily for automated meter reading. This isn't optional: the Government of the province has legislated for remote meter reading and 2007 "smart meters" have to be in place by end 2007.

This isn't the first Canadian city to go for the hotspot identity: the idea was probably triggered by neighbouring Fredericton which announced the "Fred ezone" WiFi plan as long ago as November 2003.

"Like streetlights and sidewalks, Fred-eZone is municipal infrastructure," the city announced 18 months ago. "Today, coverage extends throughout the downtown business district, City parks, local arenas, business hotels, Kings Place Mall, and the Fredericton Mall. With plans for Fred-eZone expansion in place, the future will see coverage extended to include all of the City's business corridors and public spaces. WiFi is the next big thing in networking. It is now available throughout Fredericton for you to use - free of charge!"

Fredericton even has three maps showing WiFi coverage of the city.

The full story is available  here, but you'll have to register first, before you can read it.