While they are using the HAM portion of the bands this is basically just wifi gear. Granted they are probably using more power than is legal for unlicensed users.
Yes common commercial wifi gear with all its pros and cons which some would argue is (among other technical and legal downsides) not true to the spirit of amateur radio anymore.
In Slovenia we have this guy working on a new protocol, software and hardware stack purposely built for packet radio with the intention that anyone can solder their own radio station.
Right now it is deployed on the 430Mhz band in Slovenia and you need a call sign to use it. Works quite well, can watch youtube from mountains where even 3g does not reach ^^
