Westminster City Council has approved plans to extend a
wireless network across the London borough following a successful
pilot.
The Wireless City project is aimed at improving the council's
services through remote working technology, but it will also
provide Wi-Fi hotspot access to the internet for members of the
public.
Colin Barrow, deputy leader of the council, said, "Many
functions of the council are carried out by employees who are out
and about in the borough. Wireless will therefore allow our people,
such as environmental health officers, to link directly to our
server and deliver our services more efficiently."
The wireless service will support free access to a local
network, allowing residents and tourists to access information and
pay for council services online. It will also support paid access
to the internet that will eventually be available across the
borough.
In addition, the system is expected to improve security for
local people by supporting a "more flexible and adaptable CCTV
network", Barrow said.
The Wireless City scheme will initially cover the West End and
the area around the Houses of Parliament, with a later roll-out to
residential areas.
It is being delivered in partnership with the council's
strategic outsourcing partner Vertex, which will work with BT,
Telindus and Capgemini to provide the network.
More information:
www.westminster.gov.uk
Comment on this article:
computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk