Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Matthew Sparkes

Does London even need free Wi-Fi?

Boris Johnson made headlines today after appearing on BBC London radio saying that he hopes to roll-out WiFi coverage to the entire city. What a noble aim, considering the importance of the internet today and the fact that not everyone can afford the cost of home connections. It’s precisely the sort of thing that can win support in the short term, but it’s never going to happen.

“They’ve done it in other parts of the world; why on earth can’t we do it?” he asked.

Because it will cost a fortune, Boris, that’s why. An investment in infrastructure that big would cost millions, hundreds of millions. There’s little point in it, either, as 3G mobile broadband continues to fall in price. Londoners won’t be happy paying for a costly organised network in extra taxes when £10 per month per person could solve the problem instantly. Just look at the animosity towards the ever-increasing Olympic budget if you need proof.

Nonetheless, the problem remains; there are hundreds of thousands of people in the capital without internet access, and it’s vital that this is rectified. It’s just that Wi-Fi is not the answer.

Not to mention the problem that would arise if Boris does splash free Wi-Fi all over London; a handful of livid companies marching to City Hall to ask who’s going to refund their considerable investment in commercial hotspots.

Gordon Brown is tackling the subject in another way with his £300 million voucher scheme, but Johnson has criticised this as being “a bit like a desperate bribe by the Prime Minister.” As opposed to a desperate bribe from the Mayor, eh, Boris?

I see Brown’s plan as an honest gesture and an important step in slowing the halt of the ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots in this country. Internet access is now so important that it needs to be available to everyone, and the scheme seems like a reasonably sensible way to go about it – by paying for broadband connections and home PCs.

Personally I think that the money would be better spent in extra funding for libraries, where internet access can be had for free by anyone motivated enough to seek it out, but I’d rather see Brown’s plan implemented than Johnson’s.

Tags: boris, brown, gordon, johnson, london, wifi

Posted in: Newsdesk, Random

Permalink | Trackback

Follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Social Bookmark this article: What is this?

5 Responses to “ Does London even need free Wi-Fi? ”

MJ Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
How about “London-Fon” instead? Get everyone to help each other with widespread wifi? Then London can join the other 1039828 Fon users around the world too.
Soji Fajemieokun Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
It was tried in San Francisco (tho abandoned by Earthlink the service provider) and was done in Pennsylvania by the city government. So i don’t know why it can be done here and why is writer/blogger sounding so negative? Even if it is relatively expensive to roll out it can be done on a ppp basis or the access expenses subsidized by the city of london government. Pole based routers in a mesh like system can be installed relatively cheaply and i don’t think it’s going to cost “hundreds of billions of pounds” like you are sounding.For example Tropos routers costs US$2000 approximately £1,115 and 1 can cover 2-3 kilometers so having 500 routers say, to cover the city of London is £557,500 excluding VAT and installtion coats will be under £1million. So whats so expensive about that
David C Says:
September 25th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Boris needs to talk to dSpot – a new US based startup that offers an ad supported free wifi system. I’ve seen of their stuff and it’s pretty amazing – the ads are all coupons and discounts from local retailers and it’s economically viable – rather than expecting the users to pay for it or for it to be subsidised by Government, the advertisers make it pay – as long as the advertising is acceptable to the user it would work. You don’t need WiFi walking down the street, but you need it at places where you can sit or have to wait. So the Mesh networks aren’t needed and don’t work anyway and you don’t need the ridiculous prices of ruggedised equipment mounted outside.
roberts mp53 Says:
July 27th, 2009 at 9:58 am
roberts mp53…

Macworld’ s Christopher Breen has been watching the developing situation with internet radio and the new royalty regulations that have the potential to cripple or kill internet radio. Chris summarizes the history of the situation, explaining where th…
Free Wifi Hotels Says:
August 20th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Here is a list of Hotels in London that already offer free wifi internet access:
o Cleveland Free Wifi Hotel Kensington Gardens
o One Aldwych Free Wifi Hotel Aldwych London
o Radisson Edwardian Hampshire Free Wifi Hotel Leicester Square London
o Radisson Edwardian Free Wifi Hotel New Providence Wharf London
o The Lanesborough free wifi hotel Hyde Park Corner London
o South Lodge free wifi hotel Lower Beeding London
o Golden Strand free wifi hotel Hammersmith London
o Radisson Edwardian Grafton free wifi hotel Regent’s Park London
o Radisson Edwardian free wifi hotel Heathrow London
o SO Quartier – Apartments free wifi hotel St. John’s Wood London
o N.10 free wifi hotel Marylebone London
o The May Fair free wifi hotel Piccadilly London
o Best Western Phoenix free wifi hotel Kensington Gardens Square
o Park Plaza Riverbank free wifi hotel South Bank London
o Ambassadors Bloomsbury free wifi hotel King’s Cross Station London
o Andaz Free Wifi Hotel Liverpool Street City of London
o Club Quarters St. Pauls Free Wifi Hotel City of London
o The Hoxton Free Wifi Hotel Old Street the City of London
o Hesperia free wifi hotel Victoria London
o The Stafford free wifi hotel St James’s Place London

List compiled by http://www.freewifihotels.co.uk