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Waltham Forest to partner with BT to deliver world class wireless services to residents
The agreement with BT, which follows in the footsteps of 12 other major UK cities including Birmingham, Newcastle and Westminster, will be of huge benefit for local residents who will gain from more efficient service provision, safer neighbourhoods and the ability to access the internet in places they could not previously do so.
Later this year engineers will install Wireless City equipment on existing street furniture and lamp posts in Waltham Forest to create an invisible wireless network. Once live, the network will allow people to communicate from laptops and Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices wherever they are — accessing and updating information while on the move.
For the council the Wireless City network will help to transform service delivery by providing field staff such as parking wardens and housing officers, with broadband access to back office systems enabling them to serve residents even more efficiently.
In addition, the wireless network will provide the council with an opportunity to trial remote mobile CCTV, improving the safety and security of Waltham Forest residents through better and more effective street management.
Commenting on the agreement, Waltham Forest Council lead member for Service Modernisation, Cllr John Macklin, said: “The Wireless Cities project will bring real gains to the people and businesses of Waltham Forest.
“Through wireless technology Waltham Forest will be a better place to live and work, with safer streets and a council that is even more efficient and able to keep council tax levels down by delivering significant cost savings.”
Speaking on the announcement, Dave Hughes, director, BT Wireless Broadband, said “We are looking forward to working with Waltham Forest and bringing genuine wireless benefits to its citizens both now and in the future. Whilst this is just a first step for the borough, it is an important one which will help residents, businesses and visitors to Waltham Forest to experience 24/7 access to the information they want, over any Wi-Fi enabled device they have, wherever they are in the borough.”
The collaboration represents a further step forward for the city as it gears up to play a key role in the 2012 London Olympic Games. BT will be responsible for funding the rollout of the Wireless Cities Network. The development and operational costs of the network will be borne entirely by BT, with no cost burden on the tax payer for the provision and management of the network.
