If you perform an internet search and look for Cafe Hillel in Jerusalem, the chances are that the first few items that appear will be stories about a tragic suicide bombing that took place nearly 4 years ago, killing 7 and wounding 50.
As is the case with such incidents in Israel, the restaurant was rebuilt immediately and life continues as normally as one could expect. Cafe Hillel served as a calm refuge and communications centre during my recent visit to the area.
The cafe was my source of internet connectivity a few times over the past week or so, providing open WiFi together with one of the best lattes and iced coffees you can get (although others would argue for Tal Bagels). The service was part of the Unwire Jerusalem project.
I noticed that internet services in our hotels tended to be expensive – whether using a lobby kiosk or in-room connections. While hotels in Canada used to charge outrageous rates for internet connectivity, it has typically become an amenity here and in the US, like shampoo or soap, in part to help hoteliers move internet traffic off their dial-up PBX network.
Unlike North America, with flat rate calling for local phone calls, most other countries have metered local calling, which makes $15 per day internet seem cheap.
I found the Cafe Hillel alternative more pleasant for less money. A welcome evening stroll or $4 cab ride, a great coffee for $2.50 and a light breeze through palm trees while looking out the window at the historic German Colony.
Municipal WiFi networks are having financial problems across the US according to an AP story out this morning. I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all solution to provide broadband access to the masses.
But, there are certainly lessons that can be learned by observing the way people consume communications services in other countries. You just need to sit back and enjoy the coffee.
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Unwire Jerusalem, Cafe Hillel, WiFi