London News

Wi-fi for London, says Boris

Friday, 26th September 2008

Written by Francesca Cookney

Boris Johnson plans to make London a completely wifi area Mayor Boris Johnson this week revealed that he sees London becoming a "wi-fi city" where wireless internet access is available to everyone.

"Let's do it, beginning in Stratford in this fantastic area of opportunity," he said, "let's look at ways that we can improve the infrastructure in this city so that there's wi-fi access everywhere."

His idea comes as part of the latest preparations for the 2012 Olympics but also in response to Gordon Brown's recent promise to provide computer vouchers to kids without access to the internet. Mr Johnson agreed with the Prime Minister's point that many children from low-income families are missing out in the jobs market because of their lack of internet access but argued that "bunging money to people" was not the answer.

Instead he proposed that London, like many other cities worldwide, go wi-fi, allowing anyone, anywhere to get online. Of course this doesn't solve the problem that the underprivileged children in question probably don't have a personal computer, a fact that Mr Johnson failed to address.

When it comes to 2012, however, he certainly knows what he wants, describing the need to create a "sense of excitement in the middle of the city" that will rival Bejing but still be done "in our own sweet, distinguished, brilliant, ingenious British way."