its basically wireless networking...and in areas like airports, mcdonalds (not indian ones
), malls,etc they provide u broadband net access thru it for free in some places, paid other places
i kno in india that its dere in many hotels, like oberoi in mumbai.
(they charge 800 bux for 24hrs)
speeds are 11mbps or 54mbps dependin on tech used (dere 3 standards of it)...but these are the network speeds....the net speeds are whatever the provider gives, like 128,256 etc.
if u want, u can use it for normal network purposes (its not only for internet,etc) like in my home, i use my pc and laptop 2 play multiplayer gamz wid my bro