Liberty Global taps Devicescape for WiFi network

David Fraser

Liberty Global is tapping wireless technology specialist Devicescape for technology that could make it easier for its mobile customers to access the web on the go through WiFi networks.

The deal will provide Liberty Global smartphone customers with access to Devicescape’s ‘curated virtual network’ (CVN) of public WiFi points.

The Devicescape CVN is a collection of over 20 mullion public, amenity and affiliate-provided WiFi access points that the company says can deliver a 25-fold capacity boost over a cellular-only network where demand is at its most intense.

Devicescape has already supplied its technology to UK cable operator Virgin Media, which is now part of Liberty Global, for the past two years.

“Adoption by a company of Liberty Global’s stature is clearly a huge endorsement for Devicescape, and our unique approach to the curation of amenity Wi-Fi,” said Dave Fraser, CEO, Devicescape. “More importantly for the wider industry, this is the first top tier deployment of a service that truly integrates cellular with the huge resource of free, intentionally shared public Wi-Fi. It illustrates how insatiable consumer demand is driving development of new service models which are changing the nature of connectivity service provision.”

Graeme Oxby, managing director, European mobile operations, Liberty Global, said: “Wi-Fi is essential to our mobile strategy, boosting coverage and capacity – particularly indoors – while driving economic efficiencies which we can pass on to our customers. By combining Wi-Fi and cellular as we are able to with the Devicescape solution, we are also delivering a significant improvement to the customer experience.”