Glasgow has become the first city in Scotland to have a BT WiFi enabled city centre, thanks to a joint initiative between Glasgow City Council and BT. Glasgow citizens, business people and visitors will now have high-speed internet access via their wireless enabled laptops and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) as a result of the installation of six WiFi devices in the central pedestrianised area of the city.
The discrete installation of six WiFi hotspots in existing BT payphones will deliver excellent WiFi coverage in the main pedestrianised area, marking the beginning of a wireless innovation strategy for Scotland’s largest city. During this first phase of implementation, BT Openzone will provide wireless connectivity with a radius coverage of 50 to100 metres at key locations in the city’s main shopping and business district, including George Square, Queen Street and Sauchiehall Street. If successful, the Council will consider the extension of wireless Internet access to other areas of Glasgow.
In addition to creating a wire-free working environment for citizens, business people and visitors in the city centre, the new technology could also be used to improve the flow of communication within the council, by eventually enabling Glasgow Council to connect with its street workers via hand-held devices. The Council is already considering the use of this type of technology for WiFi access in Libraries and Art Galleries, internet-based CCTV cameras, bus shelters, and traffic signals.
Bailie Alan Stewart, ICT Spokesperson for the Council said: “Glasgow is a vibrant city with a bustling retail environment, renowned cultural offering and dynamic business centre. The Council is working with a range of public and private sector agencies in the City to develop a ‘Wireless Glasgow Strategy’ and action plan. By creating a WiFi “hotzone” in the city centre, citizens and visitors to Glasgow can access the Internet with greater freedom. The scheme heralds an exciting new era for the City, particularly the way in which the council communicates with its mobile workers. Council employees will soon be able to send and receive information via council-issued devices that link into the wireless network.”
Julian Turner, head of multimedia solutions at BT, said: “BT worked closely with Glasgow Council to determine the best locations for maximising WiFi reach to ensure the initiative will service the city centre community, while keeping costs and disruption to a minimum by utilising the existing infrastructure of BT payphones.
“Over the next few years more and more city centres will provide wireless capability to citizens, particularly as the government looks to promote digital inclusion.”
The WiFi hotspots are located in existing BT payphones at the following locations:
- Ingram St (Italian Centre) adjacent to the busy pavement café area.
- George Square (North East) at junction of North Frederick Street; coverage onto the Square.
- George Square (North West) near the station and the Europa café; coverage onto the Square.
- Ingram St/ Queens Street covering the café areas either side of Gallery of Modern Art.
- Sauchiehall Street within pedestrianised area covering area around Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Burger King & Dino’s.
- Sauchiehall Street, within pedestrianised area covering area around Costa Coffee.
