Uk's largest WiFi zone goes public (01/11/2007)

Britain's biggest wifi zone goes live to the public today (Thurs) generating blanket internet coverage over much of London's West End for the first time. By this time next year the zone is set to be the biggest in Europe.

Residents, businesses and visitors can now get wireless connections over approximately one square mile of Westminster under a pioneering project between BT and Westminster City Council.

The wifi zone covers all of Soho and the streets around Oxford Street, Leicester Square, Strand and parts of Whitehall.

People can now use a wifi-enabled laptop, mobile phone or PDA to go online without registering, through a paid-for BT service anywhere in the zone excluding parks and indoors. Users can also log on to Westminster council's website for free to renew parking permits, to pay council tax, to order a library card and to access a host of service information. Cinema, theatre and event listings as well as maps and other visitor information will be available from early 2008 at www.westminster.gov.uk

The network has been supporting the use of wireless CCTV across the city already and will increasingly be used by council staff when going about their work.

The wifi network is running through a network of discrete transmitters mounted on street lamps. The zone is due to grow to cover 75% of Westminster, or six square miles excluding parks, by August 2008, dwarfing what is being done elsewhere in the UK and Europe.

Westminster council Deputy Leader, Councillor Colin Barrow, said:

"This is a groundbreaking project. Westminster is proud to lead the pack in rolling out this technology in an innovative way. We are excited about the improvements this will bring for Westminster and the opportunities it will create for businesses and personal use.

"Much of the network has already been up and running, but from today we are making it available to the public. People can now walk through the streets getting continuous internet coverage, rather than being anchored to a coffee shop or other wifi spot."

Westminster is the largest project of its kind in the UK. BT is working on smaller-scale projects in Newcastle, Liverpool, and Birmingham and other major cities in the UK.

A three day event promoting the zone is being opened in Soho Square today by former England rugby captain and Strictly Come Dancing finalist Matt Dawson, running until Thursday. From Thursday the event will move to Victoria Station and run until Saturday.

The free showcase event is divided into home, work and "on the move" zones showing how the internet can now run seamlessly between these spaces.

BT's Director of Wireless Broadband Dave Hughes said:

"Westminster’s growth as a 'Wireless City' really is trailblazing. This partnership, set in one of the busiest and iconic parts of the capital, is literally transforming life for those who visit, live and work here.

"Our innovative showcase event will provide the perfect opportunity for people to see and experience what the technology can do for them."

Londoners have until November 4 to take part in a competition to come up with the best ideas of how the new Wifi network could be used. The winning idea could be developed and the author get a cash prize is £1,000. People can enter online at http://www.wirelesscitypioneers.com

ENDS 

For more details call BT press office on 0800 085 0660.

Wireless competition categories are:

Wireless Living award: a winning entry will reflect the growing opportunities a Wireless City brings to an individual’s daily routine. This could be anything from an alert going to in-car satellite navigation systems when parking spaces become available to an individual being alerted via handheld computers of street-specific news.

Wireless Neighbourhood award: a winning entry will emphasise the benefits of living in a Wireless City for a specific community. For example, this could be a way in which we might improve care for older people in their own homes or how street cleaning and street maintenance can be made more efficient.

Wireless Business award: a winning entry will show how a Wireless City can help a new or existing business, such as through a targeted promotional application or a method of receiving customer feedback.

Winning entrants will walk away with a cash prize and, if a strong enough business case is put forward, the idea could even be rolled out across the city in 2008. The competition runs until November 2007 when a judging panel will decide on the winners. The prize of £1,000 will be on offer for the winner in each of the categories.

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