Silicon.com's David Meyer reports that Ofcom's decision (PDF) to allow the power output of 5.8 GHz wireless base stations to be doubled to four watts will result in better coverage in rural areas of the UK.

As Telappliant puts it, "This means that the reach of wireless broadband will extend to reach into poorly served areas of the country, allowing improved access to Internet services like VoIP while on the move or at home."

What nobody seems to be talking about, of course, is how this conflicts with the recent outcry over radiation from Wi-Fi -- when parents were terrified of frying their kids' brains at two watts, what will four watts do to 'em?...

More here from 50connect.co.uk ... more here from OUT-LAW.COM ... more here from PublicTechnology.net ... and Ofcom's press release is here.