Virgin Media plan UK Wi-Fi network
Virgin Media is to add its weight behind the growing momentum of Wi-Fi in the UK with the announcement of a planned network of hotspots numbering into the “tens of thousands.”
It will see the firm go head to head with the likes of BT Openzone, T-Mobile and The Cloud with a fast and reliable service.
This will be provided by focussing on fast local speeds of 5mbps rather than blanket slow coverage. To achieve this Virgin will install a network of broadband routers in secure public locations around the country, including the firm’s extensive network of green kerbside boxes that constitute its cable network.
Previous attempts to provide blanket Wi-Fi coverage to UK cities have floundered but Virgin claim their’s will succeed by targeting areas only where there is sufficient demand to justify the investment.
Rumours suggest that existing Virgin Media and phone customers will be given free access to the service with those with other providers will be able to access it via a subscription or pay as you go model.
Public Wi-Fi is seen as a potential solution to the increasingly traffic choked 3G services which are struggling to keep pace with data demands.