British cities to fit internet antennae on streets

Residents in 12 British cities will soon be able to surf the internet in the street without plugging into a phone cable under a series of deals with councils, BT announced today.

Hundreds of coffee cup-sized antennae are to be fitted to street furniture such as phone boxes allowing people to use broadband-speed internet everywhere from park benches to bus stops.

The “Wireless City” system will work in the same way as “wi-fi hotspots” already operating in some coffee shops, hotels and airports where laptop users can get on to the internet through tiny radio-waves in the air.

From 2007 large parts of 12 cities will effectively operate as massive wi-fi hotspots under the plan.

BT today announced deals with councils in an initial six cities – Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff and Westminster in central London – which could see systems in place by early next year.

Tie-ups with councils in another six cities are also understood to be imminent but the company says it is also negotiating with “many” others.

While most users of wi-fi – wireless broadband – technology currently have laptop computers, BT believes that the initiative will coincide with a massive expansion on the number of other electronic devices able to connect to wi-fi.

New models of mobile phone coming on to the market are set to operate in the same way and BT expects other hi-tech gizmos such as satellite navigation systems to follow suit.

The system has already been tried out in pilot schemes in Cardiff and Westminster which are now to be extended under the BT deal.

The company said that the trials showed that the system could be of use to more than just laptop-using businessmen on the move.

Wireless network already in place had provided a cheaper and easier way for Westminster City Council to install more CCTV cameras on housing estates, BT said.

Other applications being developed with councils are said to include up-to-the-minute information on traffic jams or empty parking spaces.

While BT said that it was making a “multimillion-pound” investment in the new infrastructure it was unable to put a figure on how much it was to spend as specific details are still to be worked out with councils.

For general use, customers will be able to buy pay-as-you go vouchers from BT or subscribe with company but funding arrangements for services being offered by councils are still to be confirmed.

After years of opposition over mobile phone masts from local communities BT emphasised that the new wi-fi hotspots were safe for the public using 7 watt antennae which a BT spokesman said were 100 times below internationally recognised safety levels.

Steve Andrews group chief of BT’s Converged Communications Services, said: “This first phase of 12 cities is just the start. We are already negotiating with many other cities.

“Our networks will make sure customers are connected at all times, but all people will notice is how valuable the services are, such as knowing where to park, access to tourist information and public services.”