Dutch cable operator Ziggo has begun its national deployment of Wi-Fi hotspots by rolling out 65,000 in The Hague. The operator said internet customers in the areas where it operates will have access to almost 1 million Ziggo Wi-fiSpots by the end of August, based on shared access to customers' home broadband modems.
Following the test city of Groningen, The Hague will be the second location to go live, with all the hotspots active by 7 May. After a one-time registration, Ziggo internet clients will automatically have access to all available WifiSpots. Ziggo added that it was currently working on several new services that will be geared to its WifiSpots network.
According to Ziggo plans, the operator will roll out 200,000 hotspots in South-Holland and Groningen, and 200,000 in Utrecht and North Holland by end June, as well as 150,000 Brabant and 200,000 in Limburg and Twente by end July. By end August, 100,000 will be installed in Friesland, Drenthe and Overijssel. Ziggo said the numbers were based on the Ziggo Wi-Fi modems installed as from 31 March. The number of modems, and therefore the number of hotspots, are expected to pass 1 million by 1 September.
Ziggo said it has adapted its equipment and programmes so that: there will be a total separation between the WifiSpot and the client network; Wi-Fi use by clients does not affect their internet performance; and that the WifiSpot has enough range to provide 20 guest users simultaneously with the necessary freedom of movement.
Ziggo tested the system in Groningen, saying that almost all clients found it to be an excellent alternative to 3G. Less than 1 percent of the clients turned off the hotspot function and did not wish to participate, Ziggo said.
