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Virgin Media to introduce free public wifi in Leeds & Bradford

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By John Glenday, Reporter

November 30, 2012 | 2 min read

Virgin Media Business is to introduce free public wi-fi in Leeds and Bradford after winning the UK’s first city wireless connections outside London.

The super connected city initiative will benefit over 1.2m people in Yorkshire cities and will pave the way for ‘small cell’ wireless networks.

Residents will begin to benefit from the new network as early as the New Year when the service launches in Leeds Briggate and Bradford’s Bridge Street. Followed swiftly thereafter by millennium Square in Leeds and City park in Bradford.

The move is intended to cater for burgeoning demand for mobile broadband by switching capacity from large numbers of customers over a large area to concentrating it over smaller areas.

Kevin Baughan, Director of Wireless, Virgin Media Business explained: “Small cells can transform the mobile experience by providing the connectivity needed to match the explosive broadband demand from the rapidly growing number of smartphones and tablets. In Leeds and Bradford, we’re working with both the local authorities and mobile operators to put in place the infrastructure that will give residents, consumers and businesses access to the wireless connectivity that they need.

“These projects in Leeds and Bradford are an important step towards making the vision of super-connected cities a reality and enabling future prosperity and innovation.”

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