KPN has no options for a massive roll out of 'hotspots' in order to stimulate the use of wireless technology by means of WiFi. KPN's primary goal is to promote the use of the i-mode technology and the deployment of an UMTS network. This opinion was put into words by Cees van den Heykant, CEO of KPN Mobile at the first conference about WiFi held in The Netherlands.
In an interview with Telecom.paper Cees van den Heykant emphasized that KPN is interested in service provisioning regarding WiFi but not in the implementation of it. "KPN Mobile is going to play an active roll in service provisioning not only for our customers who are interested in wireless technology but also for companies involved in the deployment of WiFi. We are going to offer WiFi services such as billing. The deployment of 'hotspots' is a matter of discussion but we are reluctant because all our efforts and all our attention is aimed in making i-mode successful. And next to that we are involved in UMTS and the roll out of an UMTS network. When WiFi proofs to be a success we might co-operate with company's involved in it, but not right now. We first want to wait and see what's going to happen with WiFi", says Cees van den Heykant.
But British Telecom operator BT is eager to be engaged with WiFi. BT is starting with the implementation of hotspots all over Britain. According to Cees van den Heykant the reason for this is that the position of BT is completely different from that of KPN. "BT has no mobile company any longer after the selling of it (BT Cellnet, now mmO2). Now BT is aiming at a new mobile market by means of WiFi. KPN still got KPN Mobile and is involved in UMTS and i-mode as I said before. At this moment we are not interested in a new mobile adventure such as WiFi."
Cees van den Heykant is convinced that in the end WiFi will proof to be a stimulus for i-mode as well as UMTS. "Through WiFi more people are getting interested in wireless technology. After using WiFi it might be easier for them to accept technologies like UMTS. So overall, I am very positive about developments regarding WiFi. Let me give you an example of this phenomenon. When i-mode was introduced by KPN in Holland we were the first and the only one with this kind of service. Now we have next to i-mode 'Vodafone live' on the market. So people have a choice. And when you have the possibility of making a choice, its easier to accept a new technology. And that's what we see right now. The use of i-mode is stimulated by the introduction of a competitor. So in my opinion in the end i-mode and on the long run UMTS are only profiting from the apparent success of WiFi."
