Virgin Media warns Olympic Games could lead to mobile phone ‘capacity crunch’
London’s mobile phone networks could face a ‘capacity crunch’ during the Olympic Games, making it impossible for people to use the internet, unless more wi-fi hotspots are built.
Three mobile has already warned that it will run out of mobile internet capacity on some masts by the end of 2012.
Neil Berkett, Virgin Media chief executive, said that the process of building wi-fi spots was going too slowly, which could make the Olympic Games next years a ‘missed opportunity’. Virgin Media is bidding for council contracts to build a central London public wi-fi network.
Berkett said to the Guardian: "The mobile networks are already facing a capacity crunch that, without widespread, consistent wi-fi, will leave people unable to do the most basic things such as keeping up to date with the latest travel situation and getting directions while out and about."
It is reported that Virgin wants to build an outdoor network, with transmitters hung from lamp posts and bus stops every 80-100 meters at sites in central London. O2 and BT would build predominantly indoor networks such as cafes and pubs.
The comments by Berkett come days after Boris Johnson warned that the mobile phone service would come under ‘massive strain’ during peak times at the Games.