London Gets Europe's Largest Free Wifi Zone

A woman uses her iPad inside Westminster Abbey

12:12pm UK, Friday January 06, 2012

Visitors and residents in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea will have access to free wifi on their mobile phones, laptops and tablet devices following the agreement between councils and network operator O2.

The deal, set to have the Metro wireless network up and running in time for the London 2012 Olympics this summer, is to run at no extra cost to the councils or taxpayer.

The network will initially be rolled out in a limited number of areas, starting in January 2012, then throughout the boroughs in the longer term.

Philippa Roe, of Westminster City Council, said: "Next summer?s Olympic Games mean that London will be putting on the biggest show on earth and as Westminster has a starring role, visitors to London will easily be able to share their pictures and updates of the Olympic events across social networking sites."

Derek McManus, chief operating officer for O2, said: "This ground-breaking deal - the first of its kind in the UK - will see us deliver high quality connectivity across London in time for London 2012.

"Our longer-term aim is to expand our footprint of O2 Wifi, which is open to everyone, and also intelligently enhance our services at street level, where people need the network the most."

Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Wifi-O2-Deal-Sees-New-Hub-Created-In-London-In-Boroughs-Of-Kensington-Chelsea-And-Westminster/Article/201201116143720?f=rss

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