Norwich Launches Free Wi-Fi

The city of Norwich, in the United Kingdom, has launched an 18-month pilot test of a free wireless network covering several areas of the city. Kurt Frary, manager of the project, said that the implementation, which includes more than 200 antennae, has been trouble-free so far. In an effort not to compete with commercial services, the network offers speeds of 256 Kbps for the public. Users must also log in again every 60 minutes if they want to use the network longer than an hour. Because the network is open, Frary advised using firewalls, antivirus protection, and, for business users, VPNs for individuals who connect to the network. Paul Adams, a member of the city council, said the pilot is intended to gauge the benefits of free Wi-Fi for both the public and municipal employees. During the first three weeks of the test, a significant portion of the usage was centered around universities and libraries in the city, according to Adams, who predicted that “Educational use, student use, and the virtual learning environment is going to be a big use.”

BBC, 31 August 2006