Cloud Opens Over City

UK WiFi enabler The Cloud has launched its "blanket coverage" of the City of London financial district today. The service, which is available free for the first month, will cost £11.99 per month. The Cloud says it is targeting consumers, business users and local municipal staff with a WiFi service that relies on mesh wireless technology embedded in lampposts, signs and other "street furniture".

The City's Square Mile has some 350,000 workers crammed into its environs and the network, which initially stretches from the City as far west as Soho, is powered by 127 interlinked base stations. The Cloud believes the network forms the largest single wireless internet network in Europe.

Today's launch follows twelve months of development and testing by The Cloud and the City of London Corporation. The operator says it will continue to fine tune the network over the coming weeks to ensure that it offers a "high quality of service for all".

According to a statement from The Cloud "The network allows anyone with WiFi-enabled devices including laptops, PDAs, media players and smart phones such as the new generation of Nokia devices to take their broadband with them."

Supported service providers include O2, BT Openzone, iPass, Truphone and Skype on various handsets. In addition to its wholesale options, The Cloud also provides a range of low-cost unlimited access tariffs for consumers