Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Nokia (NOK) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric L who wrote (19457)	4/10/2002 9:25:23 AM
From: Eric L	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 34857

re: BT to Provide WLAN Natiowide in the UK >> UK to Get Nationwide WLAN Network Cellular News April 10, 2002 BT has unveiled a new mobility strategy to re-enter the wireless market less than a year after it exited the field by demerging its wireless division. The company is planning, as has been widely expected, to become an MVNO, using capacity on the mm02 GSM network. BT made a commitment when demerging its wireless division, not to use any other network for MNVO services for the next couple of years, so that decision was not a major surprise. However, the company has also announced plans for a nationwide WLAN network, offering 3G comparable data speeds in up to 4,000 hot spots. It is not immediately clear if that will include a roaming facility for 3G users of the other networks, although the MVNO contract does provide BT with access to mmO2's 3G network when it goes live. Pierre Danon, chief executive officer, BT Retail said: 'We are already market leaders, with more than 20% of subscribers among major business customers. Yet, since the demerger with mmO2, there has been a false assumption that, because we do not now physically own a network, we are somehow no longer in mobile. As today's announcements demonstrate, that could not be further from the truth. The major initiatives announced today will deliver cutting-edge, integrated services to our customers, consolidate our leadership position in the mobile solutions market and provide the answers for those companies wishing to improve their 'agility'. Anticipating a decision from the UK Radio Agency to allow commercial services to operate across the 2.4 GHz radio spectrum, BT is moving to build the UK's first public access Wireless LAN network by installing around 400 hotspots by June 2003. BT estimates there will be up to 4,000 sites by June 2005 and will be working closely with its partners Motorola and Cisco to build the new network. The new MVNO will be BT branded from top to bottom, and BT has already agreed wholesale airtime terms with mmO2 to launch the new product range and has an existing three-year agreement to act as its sales channel in the business market. It will deliver today's GSM and GPRS services, as well as tomorrow's 3G solutions. The service will include access to other mobile devices such as the Blackberry, which allows real-time email access on the move without dependency on a Wireless LAN hotspot. << >> BT To Roll Out Wireless Local Area Network At 4,000 Hot Spots By June 2005 London AFX April 10, 2002 BT Group PLC has set out plans to roll out a series of wireless local area networks (LANs) nationwide providing users with high speed links to the internet and their company computer networks. The "mobility strategy" is expected to contribute new revenue of 180 mln stg a year by 2004/05 and could rise to 500 mln stg per annum in five years time, said the company. Anticipating a decision from the UK Radio Agency to allow commercial services to operate across the 2.4 GHz radio spectrum, BT plans to build the UK's first public access wireless LAN by installing around 400 hotspots by June 2003. BT estimates there will be up to 4,000 sites by June 2005 and will be working closely with its partners Motorola Inc and Cisco Systems Inc to build the new network. "We intend to build a national network of access points around key public sites such as hotels, railway stations, airports, bars and coffee shops - all within reach of business travellers, commuters and other users," said Pierre Danon, head of BT Retail. BT is talking to Costa Coffee and other retailers and property owners to find the right sites. As long as users are within range of a wireless LAN hotspot - about 100 metres - and have the right software on their laptop or mobile, they will be able to access the internet or their corporate networks at speeds of up to 500 kbps and several times faster than current wireless connections. Current estimates are that wireless LAN will be at least three times faster and less than half the price of third generation mobiles. << - Eric -