July/Aug 2004

France is surging forward as one of the best-served nations in terms of Wi-Fi public wireless networking hotspot coverage. Orange, the mobile phone network provider that has emerged as a leader in the field here, has announced that it plans to increase the number of its hotspots by 50 per cent (from 3,000 to 4,500) by the end of this year.

This project is unusual, as it is one of the first anywhere to feature "zero configuration" networking, which essentially means that users don't have to change the configuration of their computers in order to log on. A key to this technology is Cisco Systems' Mobile Exchange architecture, which is said to deliver a true multi-access platform for operators deploying mobile data services.

Orange provides pre-paid WLAN services in Air France business lounges and Accor hotels, and says it is adding around 55 new Wi-Fi hotspots - with up to 25 access points - every week. The company already offers a post-pay WLAN service to its 2 million corporate mobile phone customers, and is now extending this option to all its contract-based mobile phone customers.

Cisco again plays a role here. The system uses its Access Registrar server to provide authentication, authorisation and accounting (AAA) services.