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Paddick pledges free wi-fi access across the capital
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent23.04.08
Internet users would be able to log on to wi-fi for free in all public spaces across London under plans set out by Brian Paddick today.
They would be able to search the web while sitting in cafés, on pavement benches, in parks and possibly even on buses.
The Lib-Dem mayoral candidate would work with boroughs to set up a low-speed service - around 256KB - to avoid competition with commercial providers.
It would allow one-hour connections, which could be repeated continuously, to prevent downloading large amounts of data and playing extended games.
However, the network would get more Londoners online and would be available for secure use by emergency services.
"London is a 21st-century city and as mayor I would want to see 21st-century technology accessible to all," Mr Paddick said. "If elected, I pledge to work with the private sector and local boroughs to make London the first wi-fied capital in the world. Access to the internet is access to knowledge, jobs and education and I will do all I can as mayor to close the gap between the digital haves and digital have-nots."
Mr Paddick would also encourage computer recycling schemes, with reconditioned PCs distributed by councils, job centres and retailers to people on low incomes. He would work with Computer Aid International to tackle the "digital divide" and promote the environmental benefits of reconditioning IT equipment. The National Audit Office, British Airways, Shell and Thomas Cook already donate old computers to the charity.
The scheme, which would cost £ 7.5million to set up and run for the first five years, would be piloted in 10 inner-London boroughs and rolled out across all six zones if successful. Each area of London would have its own home page, which would carry adverts for local businesses, events and community groups.
Mr Paddick gave a guarantee that it would be cost neutral and would be paid for by scrapping Transport for London's advertising and communications budgets. He would look into securing private sector deals to expand the scheme in future.
The wi-fi scheme is based on a similar project in Philadelphia, which defeated a legal challenge from the telecommunications industry, and Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, which has wireless internet provision across 90 per cent of the city.
Norwich and Milton Keynes have both introduced free wi-fi access in their city centres, paid for by business development grants and commercial sponsorship. Last year, the City of London unveiled a wireless system for the Square Mile.
Mr Paddick has used the internet to great effect during his own campaign. He is the only main candidate who is a genuine technophile, staying up late to post comments on discussion boards. As police chief in Lambeth he was a regular contributor to radical website Urban75 under the name The Commander. "Brian is completely immersed in the web campaign - he's not like some politicians who can barely use email," an aide said.
He has hired Jerome Armstrong, a blogger from the US who helped mastermind Howard Dean's 2004 election campaign.
Reader views (10)
"the network would get more Londoners online"
Hmmm, presumably the scheme will also be buying people laptops, pcs and wireless hubs to help them get online too? After all, what good is having wifi without a wireless connection or computer? Yet another well thought out Lib-Dem strategy.
- Paddy Yuk, London
So, Mr Paddick has costed this based on an equivalent scheme in the US, so how much will it cost us householders who already have unlimited wireless connections to the internet then? Will we be getting a rebate for not using it? I certainly have no interest in paying for others to access the internet at my expense but then I guess this policy just surmises everything that the lib dems stand for, ill thought out policies that never seem to actually to benefit the people who end up paying for them.
- Libby Demon, Herne Hill
Interesting to see such 'nutty' views. Wi-fi is not like having a phone strapped to your head. It's much lower power, and no strapped to your head?
And someone saying "un-costed vote grabber"... well if that's not an attempt at a vote killer, what is. The LibDem's policies are costed and checked over by the ifs. If only Gordon's sums added up!
- Talking Sense, Cambridge
Dear Libby
It is fully costed and based on already up-and-running schemes in the USA, where issues with ISPs were overcome. Badly thought-out comment from you I'm afraid!
- Brian Paddick, London
Shame he doesn't look across the pond where the Paris Mayor in December ordered WiFi to be removed from libraries across Paris after 40% of staff suffered the same adverse effects such as headaches and nausea after WiFi was installed.
WiFI results in the same intensity of radiation as from a phone mast main beam. There is no proof this is safe. There is evidence that it is highly unsafe and can lead to cancer and genetic damage in the short to medium term.
I'm voting for the Paris Mayor!
- Sue Wright, London
Blimey. All the candidates seem to be making wild promises. A free outdoor cinema, free wi-fi, cultural parties and so on. Why not pledge a lower council tax, and cut these ridiculous addons. That'll get my vote.
- Stephen, London
Just shows how far removed from environmental policies this Pillick, sorry, Paddick is. Wi-Fi, and all wireless internet and phone connections, have been proven time and time again to have negative affects on the health of humans and animals exposed to this. Wi-Fi is an insidious radiation that interferes with the brain's natural wavelengths, and has been proven to cause tumours and cancers. Masts that supply this Wi-Fi have been placed all over London, hidden in trees and church spires. It has been recommended by foreign governments and health advisors not to live within 500 metres of one, yet I counted 160 within one small 500 metre square in London. Please, everyone, I urge you to check out the evidence yourself. Brain cancer is now the biggest cause of deaths amongst children. This has only been so for the past 5 years, go figure.
- Se Londoner, Camberwell
As someone allergic to WI-Fi this would be a disaster. Wi-Fi is like smoking and should be restricted as it is a danger to 3% of adults and all children. Kids are advised not to use mobile phones. Wi-Fi is like having a phone strapped to your brain 24 hours a day.
- David Dean, Wimbledon, London
Nothing is free. This will cost millions to set-up and maintain. The money has to come from somewhere, either through cutting existing services or increasing taxes, with the latter being the most likely option.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Oh dear, he hasn't thought that through at all has he? How many people actually use the internet for more than an hour at a time? This will put him directly on a collision course with Internet Service Providers, another badly thought out, un-costed vote grabber from the lib dems.
- Libby Demon, Herne Hill
