Birmingham deal for WiFi city centre

A square mile of Birmingham city centre will be turned into a wireless communications network area by early 2007.

The move, part of the local council's Digital Birmingham initiative and will allow anyone in the city centre to use a wireless enabled device to surf the net at broadband speeds.

Once up and running the network will grant those using wirelss enabled devices in the area the ability to access information on health, transport and allow Birmingham's 50,000 higher education students to access online education systems.

The installation will be the first in BT's Wireless Cities initiative, which will eventually be expanded to include city centre WiFi areas in Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff and Westminster in central London.

The Birmingham network, installed by BT as part of its Wireless Cities initiative, will allow the council to deliver services in new ways, says city council deputy leader Paul Tilsley.

'It shows the commitment both sides of the partnership have to ensuring Birmingham is recognised as at the leading edge of digital developments and that the city becomes the first truly sustainable wireless city in conjunction with a private sector partner,' he said.

'The Wireless Birmingham agreement is a clear demonstration of how well we have worked in partnership with BT, who are making a significant financial investment to establish this network.'

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Further reading:

• GNER completes WiFi installation on trains
• Tyre firm rolls out WiFi access for mobile staff
• Virgin Trains to launch WiFi service in 2007