Virgin Media has said that the process to provide Wi-Fi connectivity before the Olympic games next year could end up being a missed opportunity.
Virgin Media is bidding for contracts to build a central public Wi-Fi network in London. The company said that mobile phone networks in the city could face a "capacity crunch" during the Games unless thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots are built in time.
In its bids, Virgin plans to build an outdoor network, with transmitters at lamp posts and bus stops every 80 to 100 meters in central London. The indoor networks in places such as restaurants, pubs and cafes will be build by O2 and BT, said The Guardian.
Virgin Media chief executive Neil Berkett believes the process of building Wi-Fi infrastructure is moving slowly.
Berkett said, "The mobile networks are already facing a capacity crunch that, without widespread, consistent wi-fi, will leave people unable to do the most basic things such as keeping up to date with the latest travel situation and getting directions while out and about."
Earlier, London mayor Boris Johnson had warned that the mobile phone service would come under "massive strain" at peak times during the games, said The Guardian.
Recently, UK 3 warned that it will run out of capacity on some masts in urban areas by the end of next year.
