SAD LOVE QUOTES: 'Free WiFi internet access for all': Virgin Media plan public broadband network in London

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

'Free WiFi internet access for all': Virgin Media plan public broadband network in London

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Network set to challenge BT's Openzone
Virgin could wholesale access to mobile networks

By Damien Gayle

Last updated at 5:49 PM on 2nd August 2011

London could soon be covered with a free public WiFi network as Virgin Media moves to challenge BT's Openzone network.

Virgin Media's network would be freely available to anyone at 0.5Mbps, and to subscribers to its home broadband at speeds up to a blistering 10Mbps.

The proposals would see WiFi routers installed in each of the company's street-side cabinets, which distribute its cable network to homes and businesses.

'Free WiFi for all': Neil Berkett, CEO of Virgin Media has announced plans for a London-wide broadband network

Neil Berkett, the company's chief executive, has announced they are are in advanced negotiations with London councils to gain permission for the necessary works.

'The proposition would be that we would provide free WiFi access for all,' he told investors.

The free-to-use approach contrasts with BT's Openzone network which, though free to BT broadband customers, costs as much as £5.99 for 90 minutes browsing to non-customers.

Mr Berkett called the plans 'a punt' that will cost his company 'a few million pounds' and will 'keep them [BT] honest', the Daily Telegraph reported.

Hungry for data: 3G mobile networks are creaking under the strain of the demand for high bandwidth data from smartphone users

The announcement comes as 3G mobile networks creak under the strain of smartphone users' demand for high-bandwidth data on the move, with 4G networks and devices not expected on the market for a few years.

Mr Berkett added that Virgin media might wholesale the faster level of access to mobile networks, whose customers are increasingly noticing the discrepancy between what they can get at home and waht they can get on 3G.

In November, Virgin Media's director of advanced technology revealed that the company had been 'inspired' by a similar scheme launched in the U.S. by cable network Cablevision.

It covered New York City with WiFi just as U.S. networks were struggling to cope with the smartphone boom.