LONDON--()--The Cloud, Europe’s leading operator of open WiFi networks, today announces that it is launching a major initiative to expand its City WiFi operations across Europe. Its dedicated Metro WiFi business unit, headed up by Ben van Dongen in Amsterdam, is investing in a programme to bring city-wide WiFi networks to cities across Europe over the next two years and is currently actively engaged with more than 30 cities.
The initiative has been launched in response to the growing demand for city-wide WiFi networks in Europe, the emergence of WiFi in portable devices used by millions of people across Europe, and growing demand for next generation applications including voice over the internet, entertainment and broadband internet applications on the move. This demand is evidenced by significant numbers of RFPs from cities like Paris and Prague and recent deployments in Norwich, Milton Keynes and increased usage on The Cloud’s networks in Amsterdam and Canary Wharf. Further evidence of the importance of wireless networks to municipalities around Europe is the gathering of more than 150 city representatives at the Wireless Cities Congress in Cannes at the end of November.
The Cloud is already Europe’s most advanced player in city WiFi with networks in 16 cities, including flagship deployments in Canary Wharf, the City of London, and Amsterdam. Today, The Cloud is also announcing an agreement with Stuttgart in Germany and Karlskrona in Sweden and has also recently launched a pan-European road show to meet municipal representatives across Europe.
Investment in building and operating public wireless networks for European cities is estimated to reach over €100m over the next two years. By 2008 it is estimated that there will be more than 160 million WiFi-enabled devices in Western Europe, which represents one third of Western European mobile consumers. Numerous cities are therefore looking at introducing WiFi networks to meet the increasing demand for high quality, high availability services that enrich the lives of their citizens and enhance the level of service they offer, as well as meeting the City’s own connectivity requirements. City WiFi solutions offer diverse opportunities to enhance public services, increase the productivity of city workers, support local businesses and offer cutting edge wireless connectivity to citizens and visitors. WiFi technology is also helping bridge digital divides in communities and meet government’s electronic services targets.
Ben van Dongen, Managing Director for Metro WiFi at The Cloud, commented: “We established our Metro WiFi business earlier this year when we identified a significant opportunity across Europe for open city WiFi networks. We are now ready to build networks in any major European city. The Cloud has a proven track record and deep credentials in the open network world, and we can help any city have world leading technology that can support both public access and public sector applications. If a city wants to offer its citizens an open network with the widest possible range of services, applications and devices, then The Cloud is the perfect partner to help them position themselves as a 21st century city.”
Berge Ayvazian, Chief Strategy Officer at Yankee Group, commented: “Although Europe has generally lagged behind the US, Yankee Group has identified more than 150 wireless broadband projects initiated by or for European cities and towns. Local governments are starting to benefit from the increased productivity, traffic management and public safety benefits of these networks, and anticipate additional benefits of regional economic development, digital inclusion and broadband competition. As the digital cities’ movement accelerates in Europe, Yankee Group expects the market to shift from government owned and operated to service provider initiated wireless broadband projects lead by companies such as The Cloud.”
Notes to editors:
About the MobilCity Region Stuttgart WiFi network
The Cloud’s Stuttgart network extends across the city and includes the local tram stops as well as nearby city, Fellbach. 50 access points across the area will provide residents and visitors with access to wireless broadband across a range of devices. The network will also provide free access to Stuttgart’s MobilCity Portal which includes information on events, entertainment, restaurants, hotels and traffic and travel information.
About The Cloud
The Cloud offers sophisticated national wireless LAN coverage across hotspots and city networks throughout the UK, Nordics, Germany and The Netherlands. The Cloud's infrastructure is a multi-service provider platform, which allows providers such as ISPs, mobile operators, gaming, VOIP and broadband companies to offer a fully branded wireless LAN experience to their customers. With The Cloud, site owners maximise their revenue potential by supporting all major service providers at their location and customers enjoy choice of provider and the best possible user experience. Launched in mid 2003, The Cloud actively partners with Vonage, O2, BT, Vodafone, Skype, iPass, Telenor, Nintendo and Intel, among others, to facilitate the growth of open platform wireless broadband services across Europe.
The Cloud’s investors, include 3i, Accel and the Scandinavian VC, Provider Venture Partners. The Cloud was recently nominated as a Technology Pioneer at The World Economic Forum and as a Red Herring Top 100 Company.
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