Cable Forum - View Single Post - Virgin Media wants to build a super Wifi network in Central London

m419 · 13-01-2012, 13:09

People under estimate the size of Westminster and how many people actually live,work and pass through the borough, that is why there was a lot of people moaning about the cable system not being upgraded, it is a big area and to the north and round pimlico is heavily residential orientated.

When people think of Westminster they think its just Big ben,parliament,trafalgar square and oxford street.

BT and Virgin Media seriously under estimate the advantages of providing superfast broadband and TV services in this area. It will be the very last area of london to have Infinity let alone any Cable services if ever.

I don't 100% believe that Virgin Media had no choice but to pull out of providing cable services in the borough, I think it was a choice of either Westminster or Milton Keynes because I believe that BT is asking for a very hefty price to upgrade each and every part of it.

The barbican bit has been defunct for quite some time and would definately not be worth going back into, the lease of the network plus the cost of upgrading this small patch would never be worthwhile, the only alternative would be to extend the ex-Telewest/Cable London franchise into Barbican which is very nearby as it reaches Goswell Road.

Outdoor Wifi access would be worthwhile though and much needed across the following boroughs:

Westminster
City of Westminster
Camden
Islington
Tower Hamlets
Newham
Southwark
Lambeth
Kensington and Chelsea
Possibly Brent

Another advantage is to use Telephone boxes which can provide on-street wifi access, not the BT ones as they have been occupied by BT Openzone. Spectrum Interactive(New World) i'm sure are occupied by The Cloud and that leaves Infocus(Infolines) those new disabled friendly kiosks which don't seem to have a wifi partner. All those boroughs listed have Infocus public networks street kiosks.

Other resources that could be used as wifi sites are as mentioned, street lamps,council blocks from the roofs(low cost leases),bus stop shelters(the large ones) and I know it might sound crazy but from trees. They manage to hide mobile masts within trees, so it is an idea.

13-01-2012, 13:09	#9
m419 Inactive Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Services: BT Broadband,BT Anytime calls,Sky entertainment extra HD,Vodafone pay monthly Posts: 1,512	Re: Virgin Media wants to build a super Wifi network in Central London People under estimate the size of Westminster and how many people actually live,work and pass through the borough, that is why there was a lot of people moaning about the cable system not being upgraded, it is a big area and to the north and round pimlico is heavily residential orientated. When people think of Westminster they think its just Big ben,parliament,trafalgar square and oxford street. BT and Virgin Media seriously under estimate the advantages of providing superfast broadband and TV services in this area. It will be the very last area of london to have Infinity let alone any Cable services if ever. I don't 100% believe that Virgin Media had no choice but to pull out of providing cable services in the borough, I think it was a choice of either Westminster or Milton Keynes because I believe that BT is asking for a very hefty price to upgrade each and every part of it. The barbican bit has been defunct for quite some time and would definately not be worth going back into, the lease of the network plus the cost of upgrading this small patch would never be worthwhile, the only alternative would be to extend the ex-Telewest/Cable London franchise into Barbican which is very nearby as it reaches Goswell Road. Outdoor Wifi access would be worthwhile though and much needed across the following boroughs: Westminster City of Westminster Camden Islington Tower Hamlets Newham Southwark Lambeth Kensington and Chelsea Possibly Brent Another advantage is to use Telephone boxes which can provide on-street wifi access, not the BT ones as they have been occupied by BT Openzone. Spectrum Interactive(New World) i'm sure are occupied by The Cloud and that leaves Infocus(Infolines) those new disabled friendly kiosks which don't seem to have a wifi partner. All those boroughs listed have Infocus public networks street kiosks. Other resources that could be used as wifi sites are as mentioned, street lamps,council blocks from the roofs(low cost leases),bus stop shelters(the large ones) and I know it might sound crazy but from trees. They manage to hide mobile masts within trees, so it is an idea.