Wireless hotspots on track

Megabeam to kit out 15 railway stations with 802.11b wireless

Railtrack has signed a deal with wireless operator Megabeam to kit out 15 national rail stations with 802.11b wireless internet access.

The move follows a successful trial at London's Paddington station. Megabeam CEO Ryan Jarvis said sites at Euston, Victoria and Liverpool Street would go live within the next two months.

Megabeam will deploy Intel wireless technology, a snub to rival Cisco which has seen the majority of public wireless Lan hotspot custom go its way.

Jarvis said the decision to go with Intel was based on the company's commitment to mobile technology.

As a wholesaler, Megabeam will install the technology and then lease access to service providers. "We are building out the infrastructure for those operators that don't want to do it themselves, but still want a presence in the market," said Jarvis.

Megabeam will target 3G licence holders, which he said would roll out the service as a compliment to eventual 3G services. Twenty bluechip corporates have already signed up to the service to deliver access to their wireless Lans.

"They have the ability to roll out wireless technology on corporate laptops and will have VPNs already in place."

Jarvis wiped his hands of responsibility for security issues. He admitted the technology was "insecure" but stressed it was down to end users to make security arrangements with third-party products.

Many commentators on the wireless hotspot industry have said the main issue revolves around real estate rather than technology. BT stole a march on its rivals with its nation-wide Openzone announcement.

Securing exclusive rights at locations such as motorway service stations, coffee shops and airports, prevents other operators getting in on the action. Although a kind of monopoly has been created, BT Group has to be grudgingly applauded for its foresight.

Megabeam's technology will be rolled out at Waterloo, Kings Cross, Euston, Paddington, Victoria, London Bridge, Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, Charing Cross, Gatwick, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Leeds Central, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

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