Glasgow has today become the first city in Scotland to have a BT Wi-Fi (wireless hotspot) enabled city centre, thanks to a joint initiative between Glasgow Council and BT.

The installation of six BT Openzone hotspots will enable citizens to enjoy high-speed internet access via their wireless enabled laptops and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). The hotspots are in the central pedestrianised area of the city.

BT Multimedia Solutions is providing this connectivity within a radius of 50 to100 metres of key locations in the city's main shopping and business district. These include George Square, Queen Street and Sauchiehall Street. The Council is also considering extending wireless internet access to other areas of Glasgow.

This new technology will also be used to improve the flow of communication within the council, by eventually enabling Glasgow Council to connect with its street workers via hand-held devices and a virtual private network (VPN). The Council is already considering the use of this type of technology for Wi-Fi access in Libraries and Art Galleries, internet-based CCTV cameras, bus shelters, and traffic signals.