Canary Wharf Group is introducing a first-of-its-kind roaming WiFi offering across its Docklands district.
The company has teamed up with Cisco on the world’s first commercial trial deployment of OpenRoaming, which allows mobile devices to connect automatically to WiFi hotspots and roam between them without requiring the user to log in.
“For the real estate industry, next-generation connectivity is a critical utility,” said Sir George Iacobesco, CWG’s executive chairman. “Extending the value of our services well beyond office space, our customers are demanding access to world-class digital infrastructure and connectivity.”
Scot Gardner, chief executive of Cisco UK and Ireland, added: “Secure connectivity is fundamental to the UK’s growth, and with best-in-class WiFi, as well as the seamless experience of OpenRoaming, Canary Wharf Group is providing the foundation for businesses to benefit from the digital economy.”
OpenRoaming is a Cisco-led federation of networks, which are able to auto-authenticate users’ devices using established identity providers such as the user’s service provider or device manufacturer. The project is currently in beta mode and will be trialled across Canary Wharf and, next year, the neighbouring Wood Wharf.
Cisco claims the offering will let users “go from the coffee shop, to the mall, to a concert, and never miss a thing”, allowing their phones to keep coverage as they move between WiFi hotspots.
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