Mayor wants London covered in Wi-Fi
And the Prime Minister is set to offer millions of pounds to get every student online.


London should have blanket Wi-Fi coverage, Mayor Boris Johnson told BBC Radio today.
Johnson suggested the site of the 2012 Olympics would be a good place to start installing the necessary infrastructure. "Let's look at ways that we can improve the infrastructure in this city so that there's Wi-Fi access everywhere," he told the BBC.
The mayor made the comments ahead of a speech by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is expected to again promise hundreds of millions of pounds in funds to get every UK student online by offering a voucher worth 700 to low-income families.
Johnson said he'd rather see universal Wi-Fi, however. "I think that's the way we should be going, rather than bunging money to people, which sounds a bit like a desperate bribe by the prime minister," he said.
"I certainly think there is a case for dealing with people who are information technology-poor, and trying to help people get online," Johnson added.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Freelance journalist Nicole Kobie first started writing for ITPro in 2007, with bylines in New Scientist, Wired, PC Pro and many more.
Nicole the author of a book about the history of technology, The Long History of the Future.
-
Cleo attack victim list grows as Hertz confirms customer data stolen
News Hertz has confirmed it suffered a data breach as a result of the Cleo zero-day vulnerability in late 2024, with the car rental giant warning that customer data was stolen.
By Ross Kelly
-
Lateral moves in tech: Why leaders should support employee mobility
In-depth Encouraging staff to switch roles can have long-term benefits for skills in the tech sector
By Keri Allan
-
Gov's broadband plans do little to address 'rural brain drain', expert warns
News Businesses are still unable to compete with urban counterparts, forcing job seekers into the cities and suppressing innovation
By Rory Bathgate
-
Podcast transcript: The crisis in rural connectivity
IT Pro Podcast Read the full transcript for this episode of the IT Pro Podcast
By IT Pro
-
The IT Pro Podcast: The crisis in rural connectivity
ITPro Podcast Rural businesses are still being left behind and face shutdowns of 3G and copper without anything to fall back on
By IT Pro
-
UK government to run Starlink trials in Snowdonia, Lake District
News The government has indicated low-Earth orbit satellites could be key to expanding connectivity to UK businesses
By Rory Bathgate
-
Satellite broadband could turbocharge rural business connectivity
In-depth The burgeoning industry is pledging to succeed where fibre has failed, in a much-needed push to connect chronically underserved businesses
By Rory Bathgate
-
Podcast transcript: Can 5G close the digital divide?
IT Pro Podcast Read the full transcript for this episode of the IT Pro Podcast
By IT Pro
-
The IT Pro Podcast: Can 5G close the digital divide?
IT Pro Podcast Connectivity is essential for modern life - but can 5G help bring it to those without?
By IT Pro
-
BT's 'SoHo' business aims to help SMBs rebuild post-pandemic
News The spin-off will offer broadband packages, free digital skills training and cyber security tools to SMBs and startups
By Sabina Weston