BT’s group director of mobility, Steve Andrews, told delegates at The Wireless Event in London that BT has begun rolling out wireless infrastructure in six U.K. cities.
The cities taking part so far are Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool and Westminster, reports C/Net.
Cardiff and Westminster are extending their smaller Wi-Fi networks that already exist. Ultimately BT plans to deliver high-speed Wi-Fi to 12 cities.
The first phase of the “12 Wireless Cities” plan is expected to be up and running by February 2007. BT hasn’t yet said which other six cities will be involved.
BT will be working with Intel on the project. Intel Capital and PIPEX will provide broadband services in major metropolitan areas througout the UK, including citywide “hotspot” wireless access. Intel Capital is investing US$25 million in the new company. Yesterday, Belair announced that is extending the London cloud.
In an unrelated initiative, wi-fi network firm The Cloud is also setting up wireless zones in nine cities including London, Manchester and Birmingham.
