LAWN launches Wi-Fi into London's sky
Nodes on Richmond Row are the
beginning of the plan to make Wi-
Fi accessible throughout the entire
city.
Local organization Downtown London paired with Turnstyle Solutions and Cisco-owned Meraki Technologies in April to launch the London Area Wi-Fi Network, a program allowing residents free Internet connection out on the streets.
Kathy McLaughlin, manager of main street programs for Downtown London, has been apart of the initial set up of the LAWN program.
“[The program] will offer residents the opportunity to share experiences in the city,” she said. “Local businesses could get more exposure from LAWN. For example, businesses could send users coupons to bring more traffic to their stores.”
The user experience is a main focus of Turnstyle Solutions. Colin Salter, director of client engagement, says the company is excited to work with Downtown London and believes that the analytical information will benefit the city.
“We do not want people to think that using the Wi-Fi means that we will be watching them,”Salter said. “It is anonymous data, and cell data. The information is out there and we should aggregate it.”
“We will be able to examine the dimensions of enjoyment, and understanding the areas that have more [user] traffic.”
The LAWN provides residents with 20 gigabytes. One issue Downtown London and Turnstyle Solutions could face is the impact it will have on Internet service providers such as Bell and Rogers.
“Turnstyle is very excited about how ISPs will benefit from this. Cell data is moving to Wi-Fi. That is the future,” Salter said. “Without the need for cell towers – which are expensive – connecting to users is cheaper for providers and could drop the rates for users.”
But the potential for the LAWN is not only commercial. McLaughlin is excited to bring more students further downtown.
“There is an awful lot more happening south of Jack’s,” McLaughlin said. “When you are downtown with your friends, it is nice to be able to share your personal downtown experience. We would love for people to explore.”
As the program continues, Salter is thinking about how the LAWN program will develop.
“There are two phases that the program [could] go through,” he said. “The first, expansion up to Western University and Fanshawe College and the second would be moving the LAWN inside and out.”
“This would allow us to make a seamless connection throughout the community.”
Building a stronger connection for the city with Wi-Fi is not the only initiative Downtown London is working on.
“We are also looking into fiber optic cable throughout the city,” McLaughlin said. “It would help transmit files at the speeds that are used by professional companies. With the exorbitant cost for fiber, small businesses cannot afford to have it in their stores. We are looking into installation costs.”
With LAWN growing and the potential for fiber optic cable throughout the city. London may have to change from the Forest City to the Smart City.
Local organization Downtown London paired with Turnstyle Solutions and Cisco-owned Meraki Technologies in April to launch the London Area Wi-Fi Network, a program allowing residents free Internet connection out on the streets.
Kathy McLaughlin, manager of main street programs for Downtown London, has been apart of the initial set up of the LAWN program.
“[The program] will offer residents the opportunity to share experiences in the city,” she said. “Local businesses could get more exposure from LAWN. For example, businesses could send users coupons to bring more traffic to their stores.”
The user experience is a main focus of Turnstyle Solutions. Colin Salter, director of client engagement, says the company is excited to work with Downtown London and believes that the analytical information will benefit the city.
“We do not want people to think that using the Wi-Fi means that we will be watching them,”Salter said. “It is anonymous data, and cell data. The information is out there and we should aggregate it.”
“We will be able to examine the dimensions of enjoyment, and understanding the areas that have more [user] traffic.”
The LAWN provides residents with 20 gigabytes. One issue Downtown London and Turnstyle Solutions could face is the impact it will have on Internet service providers such as Bell and Rogers.
“Turnstyle is very excited about how ISPs will benefit from this. Cell data is moving to Wi-Fi. That is the future,” Salter said. “Without the need for cell towers – which are expensive – connecting to users is cheaper for providers and could drop the rates for users.”
But the potential for the LAWN is not only commercial. McLaughlin is excited to bring more students further downtown.
“There is an awful lot more happening south of Jack’s,” McLaughlin said. “When you are downtown with your friends, it is nice to be able to share your personal downtown experience. We would love for people to explore.”
As the program continues, Salter is thinking about how the LAWN program will develop.
“There are two phases that the program [could] go through,” he said. “The first, expansion up to Western University and Fanshawe College and the second would be moving the LAWN inside and out.”
“This would allow us to make a seamless connection throughout the community.”
Building a stronger connection for the city with Wi-Fi is not the only initiative Downtown London is working on.
“We are also looking into fiber optic cable throughout the city,” McLaughlin said. “It would help transmit files at the speeds that are used by professional companies. With the exorbitant cost for fiber, small businesses cannot afford to have it in their stores. We are looking into installation costs.”
With LAWN growing and the potential for fiber optic cable throughout the city. London may have to change from the Forest City to the Smart City.
