East 17 to big up the wi-fi massive

London borough Waltham Forest is to pilot a public wireless network after joining forces with BT as part of the telco's Wireless Cities initiative.

BT will pay for and construct the network over the coming months by fitting wireless transmitters to lampposts and other street furniture.

The network will initially cover a square mile around Walthamstow town centre, with several three-month trials due to take place this autumn.

The project will boost council services and bring benefits to local residents and businesses, according to the council's e-transformations manager, Max Carter.

Carter said: "One of the key things is that it gives us the flexibility to pursue our objectives. There really are opportunities there."

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He explained the network will greatly impact council service delivery, with social workers and other staff able to remotely access back-office systems.

Carter added: "This gives us more opportunity for flexible working and working from home. It gives us a lot more flexibility from where staff can operate from.

"The beauty of this initiative is we're not involved in the expense of constructing the network."

The local economy should also benefit. Carter said the aim is to give local business people "affordable and agile internet connectivity".

He added it is hoped the wireless network will encourage businesses to stay in the area while attracting new ones to it - reversing the current high turnover of businesses.

Local residents will have free access to online council services but have to sign up with BT Openzone to get full internet access.

There are also plans to provide full wireless web access in the borough's local libraries.

The network will support mobile CCTV cameras which can be moved to trouble spots around the area at minimal cost.

The agreement follows BT pilots in 12 other major UK local authorities, including Birmingham, Newcastle and Westminster.