The Cloud To Offer Londoners Free Wi-Fi

The Cloud is offering free Wi-Fi to Londoners, in a bid to improve the quality of communications access in the capital.

Wireless network provider The Cloud will start its new initiative within the square mile of London on 1 February. It aims to turn the capital into “a fully Wi-Fi’d city”, while helping to alleviate the burdens of the VAT increase and new restrictions on mobile Internet data imposed by certain network operators.

“People will find their smartphones work much better on Wi-Fi than on their mobile phone network; no more waiting for apps to appear or photos to download, this is mobile broadband in its true sense,” said Naunton Dickins, managing director at The Cloud.

Anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled device can get connected to the company’s network and surf the web for 15 minutes, free of charge. However, extra time can be purchased on a pay-as-you-go or subscription basis.

The scheme aims to attract more than 350,000 city workers and visitors in London. The company previously launched a similar initiative in Glasgow, where it reportedly recorded thousands of log-ins everyday.

FastConnect

The Cloud’s latest initiative also allows every O2 iPhone user to download its FastConnect application, where they can register for the Cloud network and receive free Wi-Fi at thousands of hotspots across the UK.

The application not only indicates the nearest Cloud hotspot but also automatically connects users to the Internet whenever they enter the area.

According to the company’s spokesperson, the free Wi-Fi scheme came after BSkyB had reached an agreement to acquire the company on 27 January.

The broadcaster is reportedly planning to offer its 2.8 million broadband subscribers free wireless connections in order to compete with BT’s free Wi-Fi access deal for its home broadband customers.

Launched in 2003, The Cloud claims it has connected three million laptops and smartphones to its network every month, with an average download speed of more than 3.5Mbps.

The company also has deals with major brands like Marriott, McDonalds, O2, Pret A Manger, Eat and the City of London Corporation.