Thursday 30 January 2025 – Anyone living and working in Westminster, or visiting the city, will be able to enjoy seamless free public WiFi with a single sign-on, thanks to a new network being trialled by Westminster City Council and supported by the Mayor of London.
Connected London WiFi is a new service that is looking to create a seamless roaming experience across the many disparate WiFi networks in London, with the hopes of improving the visitor experience in London and tackling digital and technology inequality for Westminster residents through the provision of easy-to-access and free internet connectivity.
Many of Westminster’s businesses, public spaces and cultural attractions already offer free WiFi access, each requiring people to sign up and log in every time they connect.
It is quick and easy to access Connected London Wi-Fi by scanning a QR code and following the instructions to install a profile on your phone or tablet, without inputting any data at all. Once someone has installed the profile, the device will automatically connect securely to the OpenRoaming™ network across Westminster and the globe, safeguarding privacy as well as saving time and saving money.
Connected London WiFi begins with a two-month trial at 50 locations across the city, including Strand Aldwych, street markets such as Berwick Street and Maida Hill Market, and also in libraries and community centres.
The Council has been working with Guglielmo and the Wireless Broadband Alliance to bring Connected London WiFi to life. If successful, efforts will be made to facilitate a London-wide expansion with other WiFi network providers to roll this out across the capital. After the trial, further efforts will focus on a solution that moves away from using a QR code.
Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development at Westminster City Council, said:
“Every one of us has struggled to get high-speed mobile connections in central London, especially in busy areas such as Oxford Street and Covent Garden. That’s why so many people rely on using public space WiFi but this can be fiddly and difficult to log in to.
“Westminster Council is proud to be the first Council in the UK to launch a single sign-on WiFi network spanning multiple operators. Workers, tourists and Londoners will all benefit from easier connections to faster mobile broadband.
“Connected London WiFi offers free, seamless internet connectivity for people moving around the city. With the continued support from the Mayor of London – and potentially other London boroughs – we hope to roll out this WiFi network across the whole of London, and potentially beyond.”
Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, said:
“We want every Londoner and visitor to have the best experience possible – and our increasingly digital world means that’s much easier with a fast, reliable, seamless internet connection. Connected London WiFi is a vital step forward in our work to improve digital access across the capital, which has seen a massive jump in gigabit connectivity to homes and businesses, as we continue building a fairer and better London for everyone.”
Giovanni Guerri, CEO at wireless technology provider Guglielmo, said:
“We are extremely honoured and excited to have participated in such an innovative project that opens new perspectives for public WiFi in terms of user experience and security. We sincerely thank the Westminster City Council for the trust placed in our team and for the wonderful professional experience.”
Tiago Rodrigues, CEO at Wireless Broadband Alliance, said:
“The OpenRoaming deployment in Westminster represents a critical step toward digital inclusion, providing free, secure WiFi that breaks down connectivity barriers for residents, businesses and visitors who may otherwise struggle to access essential online services. By creating an automatic login-free network across key locations, Westminster is not just enhancing digital infrastructure but actively working to close the digital divide ensuring that connectivity is a right, not a privilege.”
About the Wireless Broadband Alliance
Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is the global organization that connects people with the latest Wi-Fi initiatives. Founded in 2003, the vision of the WBA is to drive seamless, interoperable service experiences via Wi-Fi within the global wireless ecosystem. WBA’s mission is to enable collaboration between service providers, technology companies, cities, regulators and organizations to achieve that vision.
WBA undertakes programs and activities to address business and technical challenges, while exploring opportunities for its member companies. These initiatives encompass standards development, industry guidelines, trials, certification, and advocacy. Its key programs include NextGen Wi-Fi, OpenRoaming, 5G, IoT, Smart Cities, Testing & Interoperability and Policy & Regulatory Affairs, with Member-led Work Groups dedicated to resolving standards and technical issues to promote end-to-end services and accelerate business opportunities.
Membership in the WBA includes major operators, service providers, enterprises, hardware and software vendors, and other prominent companies that support the ecosystems from around the world. The WBA Board comprises influential organizations such as Airties, AT&T, Boingo Wireless, Boldyn Networks Broadcom, BT, Charter Communications, Cisco Systems, Comcast, HFCL, Intel, Reliance Jio, Telecom Deutschland and Turk Telekom.
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