Dec 06/Jan 07

City-wide Wi-Fi mobile Internet access is edging steadily closer to becoming a reality. In one of the latest developments, BT's Wireless City initiative, which has been simmering for several years, looks as if it will finally emerge in working form in the first quarter of 2007.

BT aims to set up full-integrated Wi-Fi networks in twelve UK cities (including Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle). Periodically it announces further developments in the programme, but the latest announcements actually suggest start-up dates.

They involve Westminster in London and Newcastle, where networks are due to go live by March. The Westminster implementation, which is being developed in association with Vertex Data Science, will be aimed initially at council operations, though the implication is that the infrastructure will later be available for public use. The Newcastle implementation is being presented more along the lines of being a public service from day one.

Generally BT has been working with partners on this project - mostly local authorities keen to offer support in a bid to ensure that their cities have the technology to attract or retain forward-looking businesses.

 

Typifying their approach is a comment from Councillor Anita Lower at Newcastle, who is reported as saying: "Newcastle cannot afford to be left behind as new technology to improve access to the Web becomes available." She adds: "The Wireless Cities project puts Newcastle firmly at the forefront of Wi-Fi access in the country. Business, consumers and households across the city will join me in welcoming this development and the opportunities it will bring."

BT presents the proposed Wi-Fi networks as being like a pool of Openzone hotspots that are joined together to create contiguous, seamless access over a large area.

Currently such initiatives tend to be limited to city centres, college campuses and the like. Suburbs, industrial areas and city hinterlands may have to wait a little longer, but connected Wi-Fi or WiMAX could eventually join up the dots.