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The Cloud
Switches On Europe’s Most Advanced Wifi Network Across The City Of
London
Other topics: WiMAX Public Safety
Network, WiMAX Channel Emulator,
Mobile WiMAX Basestations,
WiMAX Hospitality Industry
BelAir Networks
April 23, 2007
Nokia offers 350,000 people free access to the City of London network
Europe’s most advanced outdoor WiFi network will be switched on across
the entire City of London – the famous Square Mile. More than 350,000
people who work in and visit the area now have wireless broadband access
throughout the City. The network has been built and is operated by The
Cloud, a leading wireless broadband provider. Free access for the first
month will be provided in association with Nokia, allowing anyone with a
WiFi-enabled device* to get online in the City. |
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Twelve months of
development and testing have enabled The Cloud and the City of London
Corporation to deploy Europe’s densest, most comprehensive city-wide
WiFi network. The Cloud will continue to tune the network over the
coming weeks as new users, applications and devices begin to use the
service.
The network’s capabilities have been made possible with advanced mobile
broadband mesh technology supplied by BelAir Networks. The network
currently comprises 127 nodes and will evolve to offer 95% coverage
across areas owned by the City of London Corporation. Reinforcing the
Square Mile’s status as a world-leading financial and business centre,
BelAir Networks patented technology delivers industry-leading
performance and reliability. The City-wide WiFi network has been
designed and built onto existing street furniture including lamp posts
and street signs.
The network allows anyone with WiFi-enabled devices including laptops,
PDAs, media players and smart phones such as the new generation of Nokia
devices to take their broadband with them. The Cloud and Nokia will be
conducting a variety of promotional activities at various venues across
the City over the next month where the two companies will be
demonstrating the power and advantages of the network.
The neutrality of The Cloud’s pioneering approach is fundamental for
local authorities wishing to provide truly open access to both pubic and
private audiences. The Cloud ensures that a wide range of services are
immediately available, from high speed internet and email access to
voice, music, video, gaming and other entertainment services over WiFi.
Supported service providers include O2, BT Openzone, iPass, Truphone and
Skype on various handsets. In addition to its wholesale options, The
Cloud also provides a range of low-cost unlimited access tariffs for
consumers.
The Cloud offers sophisticated WiFi coverage at over 8,500 locations
across Europe, including airports, hotels and railway stations
throughout the UK, Germany, the Nordics and The Netherlands. The Cloud
operates large scale networks in Canary Wharf, Amsterdam, Stuttgart and
in 9 other UK cities including Manchester and Edinburgh.
Niall Murphy, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of The Cloud,
commented: “Metro WiFi networks are changing the face of towns and
cities around the world for both public access and public sector
applications. The City of London network is a global benchmark for
cities and metro WiFi, and an exciting addition to The Cloud’s network
across the UK and our other city networks in Europe. Working with Nokia
demonstrates the value these kinds of networks deliver for exciting and
useful ‘internet everywhere’ access on the move.”
Michael Snyder, Chairman of the City of London’s Policy Committee, said:
"The City of London is the world's leading financial and business centre
and has always benefited from a world class communications
infrastructure. It is therefore important that we provide the latest
technology that will benefit those working in or visiting the City. The
Square Mile is a fast-moving, dynamic environment and we are responding
to the increasing time pressures faced by City workers by providing the
technology for them to stay up to date, wherever they are in the City."
Simon Ainslie, GM of Nokia UK, concluded: “WiFi is at the forefront of
mobile technology today and it is important for us to partner with the
leading providers in the industry. Advanced WiFi of this kind will help
consumers get the most from our WiFi enabled devices such as the Nokia
N95, Nokia N800, Nokia E61i and Nokia E65.”
* Free access during launch month will only be available on devices with
browser capability.
About The Cloud
The Cloud offers sophisticated national wireless LAN coverage across
hotspots and city networks throughout the UK, Nordics, Germany and The
Netherlands. The Cloud's infrastructure is a multi-service provider
platform, which allows providers such as ISPs, mobile operators, gaming,
VOIP and broadband companies to offer a fully branded wireless LAN
experience to their customers. With The Cloud, site owners maximise
their revenue potential by supporting all major service providers at
their location and customers enjoy choice of provider and the best
possible user experience. Launched in mid 2003, The Cloud actively
partners with O2, BT, Vodafone, Skype, iPass, Telenor, Truphone and
Nintendo, among others, to facilitate the growth of open platform
wireless broadband services across Europe.
The Cloud’s investors, include 3i, Accel and the Scandinavian VC,
Provider Venture Partners. The Cloud was recently nominated as a
Technology Pioneer at The World Economic Forum and as a Red Herring Top
100 Company.
About The City of London:
The City of London Corporation provides local government services for
the Square Mile, the financial and commercial heart of Britain, and is
committed to maintaining and enhancing the status of the business City
as the world's leading international financial and business centre
through its policies and services. Its responsibilities also extend far
beyond the City boundaries and include management of the Barbican
Centre, Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, 10,000 acres of open
space including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest, three wholesale food
markets, as well as acting as the London Port Health Authority.
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk |
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