Virgin looks to copy BT hotspot network

WIFI HOTSPOTS apparently are the hot new thing with Virgin Media, as media reports claim the UK Internet service provider could be looking to create such a network.

Hotspots will work off the back of the company's cable network. A report at the Daily Telegraph adds that Virgin Media WiFi hotspots could provide data transfer speeds of up to 5Mbps but the company will locate them only in city centres that are economic.

Virgin Media's director of advanced technology, Kevin Baughan told the Torygraph that the hotspots network "takes the sheer power of the cable broadband network and puts it where people need it," but that they will only be located where there is sufficient demand.

And people will pay for it, one imagines. Virgin Media might make the service free for its home broadband and Virgin Mobile customers while the general public would access it on a pay-as-you go or subscription basis. Another option would be to allow whole communities to have access through agreements with local councils.

The competition is British Telecom's Openzone and that already has 3,900 hotspots providing up to 8Mbps depending upon the user's proximity. µ