London beats New York in Wi-Fi stakes

London beats New York in Wi-Fi stakes
LONDON - The number of wireless networks in London have surpassed that of New York ensuring that the former is now anointed as the world's Wi-Fi capital, according to a new study by security company RSA.

The study said London's wireless networks grew by 160 per cent over the last 12 months and reflects the growing number of businesses dependent on the network. Wireless networks have become a routine feature in many London-based companies and allow users to connect their laptops and handheld devices to a central computer. The study added that there are currently 7,130 wireless access points in the British capital.

"Its a good proxy for the number of businesses setting up in London. The ease of setting up a wireless network hasn't changed much in the last year, nor are established businesses adding access points at a rate that would account for this growth," said Tim Pickard, vice-president of marketing at RSA.

The report added that US companies like Bebo and Google had set up base in London and were expanding their operations here, which was a testimony to the fact that the city has become a hub for new media companies.

"We were significantly behind New York last year, so this result is remarkable. It is a technology that businesses want to adopt," Pickard said. Hover the report said that some 26 percent of wireless networks did not have adequate security, which is worrisome.