London To Install Europe’s Largest Free WiFi Zone

A deal struck between mobile network operator O2, Westminster City Council and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, will enable visitors and residents in those London boroughs to enjoy the largest free wireless hub in Europe, and just in time for visitor numbers to swell for the Olympics this summer!

The deal, which will run at no cost to the councils or the taxpayer, is part of both councils' plans to ensure that the millions of visitors that come to the city have the best experience possible and can make the most of what London has to offer – particularly given the double celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee and 2012 Olympic Games taking place this year – whilst delivering longer term benefits to businesses.

O2 will begin installing the network on street furniture (lighting, signposts, cabinets, etc) this month. Initially it will be rolled out in a limited number of areas and then throughout the boroughs over the longer term.

Cllr Philippa Roe, Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance at Westminster City Council said:

This is a landmark achievement for Westminster; Westminster welcomes over a million tourists a day, is home to 250,000 residents, employs over half a million people and sees 4,000 business starts-ups each year. 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.

Would you chose to stay in one neighborhood over another if it had free wifi?

Image: Bitterjug