Westminster to have biggest wireless hotspot in Europe (20/09/2007)

Westminster City Council has announced that Central London will soon boast the largest wireless network in Europe.

The council has further "grand designs" to extend this across eight square miles by August 2008 and is offering £1,000 for ideas of ways in which to use the new network.

Working with Vertex and BT as part of its One City vision, Westminster has already set new standards in using wireless technology to improve traffic management and providing council services.

Speaking ahead of the Wireless and Digital Cities event in Cannes [26th- 28th September], Kevin Goad, Director of Westminster’s Wireless City said:

"By the first week in November, Westminster will have the biggest wireless hotspot in Europe. This will dwarf what is being done elsewhere and follows the first phase rollout which has just been completed which now spans the West End, Soho and Whitehall.

"At the end of next summer, our wireless network will stretch across the City of Westminster - eight square miles of wireless hotspots.

"Through wireless technology, Westminster will be a better place to live and work. The council will be more efficient and be able to keep the streets safer.

"Wireless offers the potential to allow anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled device such as a laptop, PDA or mobile phone, to surf the internet via high speed broadband. They can also send photos, play games and use their phones to make cheaper calls over the internet.

"Furthermore, we believe that the possibilities for wireless are only limited by our imagination. We are therefore asking for people to submit their most imaginative, yet realistic, ideas to our Wireless Pioneers competition.

"We believe that the competition will encourage people of all backgrounds that Wi-Fi is about more than just a businessman with a laptop and that there is a raft of other areas where wireless technology can be of genuine and innovative use."

The council is asking for all types of ideas from residents, businesses, commuters or even tourists - the key question is how wireless can solve a pressing problem in a particular area or enhance daily life. The winning ideas in three categories will each win £1,000 and if suitable could be turned into a reality.

A dedicated microsite www.wirelesscitypioneers.com has been set up to submit entries and with information on competition criteria for individuals to learn more about innovative uses of wireless technology from around the world.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

In Soho, wireless is already making residents, businesses and visitors lives easier, as they are now able to send emails between meetings in taxis or check out the latest news over lunch.