Cllr Bridget Fox announces the ‘Technology Mile’ goes live; now providing free and convenient internet access to all citizens, workers and visitors in Upper Street.
Upper Street, Islington, 7th June 2005 - Islington’s bustling thoroughfare today takes on a new dimension in serving the community with the official unveiling of the ‘Technology Mile’, a wireless broadband network providing citizens with free access to the internet and council services.
The ‘Technology Mile’ is so-called as it stretches from The Angel to Highbury Corner, providing one mile of unbroken wireless broadband coverage to support the residents, workers and visitors in this thriving, multi-cultural borough.
“As London’s largest ‘hotzone’ Islington’s Technology Mile is a landmark in providing wide reaching community services directly on the street,” says Cllr Bridget Fox. “By offering free access to important council services and to the internet, the project addresses social inclusion head on and supports our ambition to turn Islington into an A1 Borough for all.
“The technology mile builds on other schemes the council has in place to help everyone to gain the benefits of internet access. I’m especially pleased with the second phase of the project, when we hope to begin work with selected local businesses, supplying PCs along Upper St business so they can offer free access to their customers.”
The ‘Technology Mile’ is accessible by anyone with a wirelessly enabled device. They are directed to a tailor-made council landing page which features a comprehensive menu of council services, information and communication options, plus direct access to the World Wide Web, all free of charge and easy to use.
The mile long network covers the throng of restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars along the length of Upper St, all of which can now offer free internet access to their customers who have wireless enabled devices, such as laptops, notebooks and PDAs.
The landing page provides people with critical information on council and local services, including jobs, travel, e-Govt options, child care and advice services. All key council services are also accessible on the network of eight iPlus Points around the borough.
Marc Meyohas, Chief Executive of Cityspace, the council’s technology partners who built the network said: “Islington is a progressive council with great vision; the Technology Mile proves what can be achieved for the community by taking the internet out of the restrictive arenas of homes and offices and truly integrating it into people’s lives.”
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Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008