Page 104 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

WHOLESALE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Canary Wharf Group, Virgin Media and Cisco Announce First-Ever Commer-

cial Deployment of OpenRoaming for New Residents of the Canary Wharf

Estate

Canary Wharf Group (CWG), owner of one been more important for those working and businesses, what was once deemed ‘the
the largest business centres in Europe, living in the area, as well as those visiting future of work’ became a reality almost
together with Cisco and Virgin Media, have for work and leisure. In Canary Wharf, Virgin overnight. As businesses now accelerate
announced the first European commercial Media has recently expanded its gigabit to a digitized and automated future,
deployment of OpenRoaming for residents capable network, connecting more than OpenRoaming and Wi-Fi 6 will play a
on the Canary Wharf estate. Combining the 1,000 homes over the past year. This is part critical role in that journey. In the next
convenience of mobile roaming with Wi-Fi 6 of a wider plan to connect more than 4,000 normal, strengthened digital infrastructure
connectivity, OpenRoaming allows devices homes in the area and provide connectivity and robust cybersecurity are fundamental
to connect securely and automatically to public spaces. New residents can also to recovery and growth. They provide the
to Wi-Fi networks and roam seamlessly benefit from a pre-installation service foundations for businesses to benefit in
from one hotspot to another without which allows them to be connected the the digital economy,” said David Meads,
the need for the user to log in. The joint same day they move into their apartments Chief Executive, Cisco UK and Ireland. “We
initiative will also provide up to four times on the Canary Wharf estate. “In today’s are proud to be partnering with Canary
faster wireless speeds by deploying Cisco environment connectivity is akin to a Wharf Group and Virgin Media to develop
Meraki Wi-Fi 6 access points, along with critical utility. Our commercial, retail and the future vision for this iconic site and
sophisticated location-based analytics to residential customers are demanding to enable next-generation experiences
allow its clients to build unique services for access to world-class digital infrastructure for Canary Wharf’s customers, residents
their customers. At a time when almost all and next-generation connectivity,” said and shoppers.” WBA OpenRoaming is a
organizations are considering new ways Shobi Khan, Chief Executive, Canary Wharf Wireless Broadband Alliance federation
of operating their business, OpenRoaming Group. “Canary Wharf Group is committed that includes trusted identity providers,
will enable seamless and highly secured to creating an estate-wide environment in allowing users to join any network that
onboarding to Wi-Fi and dramatically which businesses can thrive. The rollout of is part of the federation. It enables the
improve efficiencies for the more than Wi-Fi 6 and OpenRoaming is a vital part of network to securely auto-authenticate end
20,000 businesses, entrepreneurs, our continuously evolving user experience user devices by using established identity
independent retailers, bars, cafes, for residents and visitors. We’re delighted providers, such as the user’s service
workspaces, and even the school that will to work with Cisco and Virgin Media to provider or device manufacturer. Proven
be based in Wood Wharf. OpenRoaming deliver this.” Jeanie York, Virgin Media’s as a concept for the first time in February
aims to provide the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 Chief Technology and Information Officer, 2019, with attendees from around the
connectivity to residents of CWG’s first added: “Now more than ever people world at MWC Barcelona, the network
build to rent building from Vertus at 10 are relying on our services to help stay technology has now been tested in some
George Street, and homeowners at 10 connected to loved ones, for work, to of the most challenging environments
Park Drive, CWG’s first for sale residential keep informed and stay entertained. By – including Orkney, one of the remotest
property, both at Wood Wharf. Wood Wharf, providing a seamless and highly secure parts of the UK. The deployment of
Canary Wharf’s new district, is a five million Wi-Fi platform, users can take their Wi-Fi OpenRoaming at Canary Wharf follows the
sq. ft mixed-use development of over connection with them on the go, bringing completion of a successful commercial
3,000 new homes, including two million sq. them closer to the things and people that trial. OpenRoaming is now backed by a
ft of world-class commercial space. With matter most. Network innovations like this global Wi-Fi federation of WBA members,
OpenRoaming, residents can take their give us a taste of the future of connectivity including: Airmesh, Airties, Aprecomm,
secure and trusted Wi-Fi connection with and are delivering real benefits for American Tower, Aptilo, AT&T, Boingo
them when they walk out of their front door, consumers.” CWG will also help landlords Wireless, Broadcom Inc, Cisco, Cityroam,
through the apartment buildings, across and tenants to understand how their real Comcast, Commscope, Deutsche
the Canary Wharf estate and even into the estate is being used, with data analytics to Telekom, Eduroam, Eleven Software,
Tube station. This seamless connectivity drive efficiency in workspace design using GlobalReachTechnology, Google, Hub One,
will become more prevalent in the future Cisco DNA Spaces. This solution enables Hughes Systique Corp, Intel Corporation,
and will help provide highly secured Wi-Fi over-the-top use cases such as location- IT&E, m3connect, Nomosphere, Orange,
connectivity on the move. As a new normal based services, end user engagement Purple Wifi, Samsung, Single Digits, Sun
begins, the ability to connect securely and and wayfinding to enable individuals to Global, Veniam, Virgin Media, WiFiCoin and
automatically across retail, residential and find the meeting room or retail store they Zephyrtel.
guest corporate environments has never are looking for. “This year, for many UK

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