Member Article

Newcastle leads Wireless City revolution

Newcastle City Council aims to put the city at the forefront of wireless communications in Britain and Europe through their agreement with BT to create a ‘Wireless City’. Before the end of the year, engineers will install Wireless City equipment on existing street furniture and lamp posts in the city centre to create an invisible wireless network. By March 2007 this will enable people to communicate from laptops and Wi-fi enabled mobile devices wherever they are.

The new partnership will make wireless access available in a large area of the city centre. The network will bring together the very latest technologies and applications for use by public services, businesses and people. Newcastle City Council believes that the Wireless City concept will provide a major boost to local businesses and help to attract new industries.

Councillor Anita Lower said: “With more services being provided through the internet, Newcastle cannot afford to be left behind as new technology to improve access to the web becomes available. “The Wireless Cities project puts Newcastle firmly at the forefront of Wi-Fi access in the country. I am sure that business, consumers and households across the city will join me in welcoming this development and the opportunities it will bring.”

Ray Smith, BT’s North East regional director, said: “Our networks will make sure customers are connected at all times, but all they will notice is how simple and easy it is to do everything they need to do. “This is the first step towards a future of rich, high speed services enabled by new technology. The network will be a great asset to local businesses and will bring a host of information and services to local people.”

The development, operational costs, and management responsibilities of the network will be borne entirely by BT.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .