Cisco next on board for London free Wi-Fi roll-out

Cisco has been chosen to provide outdoor access points as part of the City of London’s planned free public Wi-Fi system.

The company will be working in conjunction with network provider O2 and Cornerstone Telecommunication Infrastructure (CTIL), both of whom were brought onto the project in April of this year.

The roll-out is expected to be one of the largest investments in wireless infrastructure ever seen in the capital.

Speaking in reference to the deployment of its Aironet 1560 product across the Square Mile, Cisco SVP Peter Karlstromer said: “Free Wi-Fi connectivity is now a pre-requisite for any city looking to drive innovation and compete on a globe scale.

“The deployment is a perfect example of the role that cities can play in connecting people. We are excited to continue to support the roll out of free Wi-Fi across London and ensure that next generation connectivity is accessible to everyone.”

The network – which will replace the current cloud-based service - will be fully operational by Autumn 2017.