Paknet Ltd, the joint-venture company set up with an initial UKP9m by Cable & Wireless Plc and Racal Telecommunications Plc , has taken its unique radio-accessed data communications network to the capital after its successful trial as a fast credit card authorisation system in retailer W H Smith’s do-it-yourself store in Swindon. As reported last December (CI No 1,320), Paknet is claimed to carry out card checks and funds transfers within seven seconds, as opposed to the 40 seconds it takes over telephone wire, while other benefits such as portability and easy installation make substantial cost reductions possible. The new network, which uses Cable & Wireless-owned Mercury Communications’ licence to connect to a dedicated X25 packet-switched network via the 160MHz waveband, covers the whole of the Greater London area, and will have 50 radio base stations in place by this May; Paknet is currently targeting High Street banks and credit card companies as the first users of the London network. It was also announced that IBM is to become one of the first users of the network, integrating it into its SiteView and Mobile Business Recovery customer services so that within Paknet’s coverage a radio link will be provided between its back-up trailers and the SiteView base centre.
