London Is Still World's Wi-Fi Access Point Capital

ISP Review UK writes "The latest annual Wireless Security Survey from RSA has revealed that London is still the world's wireless network (Wi-Fi) capital, with a total of 12,276 access points detected, exceeding the number found in New York City by more than 3,000. However, the French capital of Paris broke all the records with a 543% year-over-year increase in the number of wireless access points, which compares with London's 72% (down from 160% last year) and New York City's 45% (down from 49%). The survey also examined how many of the wireless access points detected were secured with some form of encryption (hotspots excluded). In New York City, 97% of corporate access points had encryption in place (76% last year). In Paris, 94% of corporate access points were encrypted — although in London, 20% of all business access points continue to be completely unprotected."

Comments

Misleading: They only went to Paris, London &

[absent_speaker]

This press release is really misleading. In the last two years, RSA only surveyed these three cities, no others. So London is the world's wireless capital when they only surveyed NYC, Paris, and London? Not really.

Besides, the gross number of wireless network doesn't tell us much. A per capita figure would have been a more useful comparison. NYC metro has 17 million people, London 8 million and Paris is at 9.6 million. It also looks like they only focused on the city's "financial hubs."

If you read further into the press release, you see this other interesting note, most networks are closed:

However, New York City remains the leader in regards to its concentration of hotspots. At 15%, New York City is well clear of London where just 5% of wireless access points were found to be hotspots. In Paris, hotspots represented 6% of all the access points we located.

Press Release: http://www.rsa.com/press_release.aspx?id=9725
Survey Results: http://www.rsa.com/node.aspx?id=3268

they sure aren't usable...

[YesIAmAScript]

I went to NYC in summer and took an iPod Touch. Everywhere I went, there were 2 or 3 networks, often some open, often over 8 networks.

I went to London and Paris last month and took an iPod Touch. I'd open it and usually get no networks at all. It was odd going to a coffee shop and seeing no networks. Sometimes, if you went into them, there'd be a T-Mobile network, but it required you pay.

I ended up getting no real use at all out of the iPod Touch other than the London Underground map I preloaded into it.

London and Paris need to learn of this idea of free WiFi.

London also needs to understand the idea of running their subway all night. It was insane that I had to take a taxi to St. Pancras because the train to Paris was boarding before the tube started running for the day.

Re:they sure aren't usable...

[Muad'Dave]

...I had to take a taxi to St. Pancras...

Who the hell is St. Pancreas, and why did you need to visit him? Is he the patron saint of Endocrine/Digestive Duality? I suppose he could absolve you of alcoholic overindulgence, but St. Liver might be your better bet.

Stupid

[nedlohs]

From my NYC apartment my laptop picks up 39 wireless networks. If I take it down 40 floors to the street I detect 3.

I can guess where they measured from...

Completely unprotected?

[kunwon1]

although in London, 20% of all business access points continue to be completely unprotected."

Probably not true. I'd wager that the lions share of those 'unprotected' APs would just funnel you straight to a VPN login page, with no other access of any kind.