At a press conference today, Meraki, the company spearheading efforts to make free wireless connection a "presence in every San Francisco neighborhood by end of the year," and Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that free Meraki Wi-Fi has spread to 80% of SF.

How it works, according to Meraki's site, is like this:

With the help of volunteers like you, we are building a network with thousands of indoor and outdoor repeaters! Each of these little boxes spreads the network a little further, bringing free Internet access to you and your neighbors. Depending on where you live, you might be able to help us out. And if you can put a repeater outdoors at your place, even better!

Oh, and it looks like the repeater comes with a nifty, electric-blue solar panel to boot. Nice. this thing at teh right instead. "The solar hasn’t actually launched yet," Meraki spokesperson Evan Solomon tells SFist. (But it's soooo pretty, we whined back.)

Also, Meraki plans to install wireless networks and offer wireless connection to 12 affordable housing complexes in the TL by next Monday -- done without the use of public funding! -- including such glamor-free living spaces as the Alexander Residence, the Franciscan, Antonia Manor, the Dalt Hotel, and the Ambassador.

Outside our 7x7-mile compound, Meraki networks "have been established in more than 125 countries worldwide. Go here to get your free Wi-Fi.