Mayor Boris wants 'WiFi London'

Scoffs at PM's PC 'bribe'

By Austin Modine • Get more from this author

Posted in Wireless, 24th September 2008 03:46 GMT

Tune into our application security webcast, click here

London should become a "WiFi city," Mayor Boris Johnson told a local radio station Tuesday morning.

Speaking to BBC London 94.9, Johnson said he envisions providing every Londoner with access to the web. The comment was in response to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's £300m re-announced proposal to provide computers and cheap broadband to lower-income families.

He dismissed Brown's scheme as "a bit like a desperate bribe by the prime minister."

"I certainly think there is a case for dealing with people who are information technology-poor, and trying to help people get online," Johnson said. "[But] what we need is a city where anywhere you go, you can log on, you can get on the web."

Johnson added the city should look into ways to improve infrastructure so WiFi access can be available across London. (Apparently he doesn't realize it's already well covered by commercial WiFi access.)

He suggested the project begin in Stratford, the location of the 2012 Olympic games. Johnson didn't indicate whether he thought the WiFi access should be available for free or not - a somewhat key detail. ®

Increase your knowledge of the latest threats to your busines