London to create big WiFi zone

Europe's largest free WiFi zone is about to be built in central London, officials said. In anticipation of the 2012 Olympics, mobile operator O2 will equip the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea with WiFi capability by March, the BBC reported Friday. Equipment will be installed on lampposts and other structures at no taxpayer expense, officials said. The goal is to offer free Internet connectivity to the busy heart of London and to the millions of visitors expected for the Olympics, they said. "Westminster welcomes over a million tourists a day, is home to 250,000 residents, employs over a half-million people and sees 4,000 business start-ups each year," said Philippa Roe of the Westminster City Council. "Visitors to London will easily be able to share their pictures and updates of Olympic events." London is catching up with other cities in WiFi connectivity, officials said. Paris already has several hundred free WiFi zones and New York offers WiFi in parks and several subway stations.