Orange plans to extend its current total of 3,000 hotspots in France to 4,500 by the end of 2004. The project includes the first use in France — and one of the first in the world — of zero configuration networking, a feature which allows users to log onto WiFi networks directly without any changes to the setup of their computers, facilitated through capabilities provided by the Cisco Mobile Exchange architecture.
Orange has forged deals to provide pre-paid WLAN services in Air France business lounges and Accor hotels, with around 55 new WiFi hotspots — with up to 25 access points — being introduced each week. Besides targeting real estate owners, the operator offers a post-pay WLAN service to its 2 million corporate mobile phone customers since April. Orange mobile users can dial #125# from their mobile phone to get WLAN connection codes. Payments can be added to the user’s mobile phone bill. Cisco said the integration is made possible by the Cisco Access Registrar server, the Cisco Mobile Exchange component enabling Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) services.
Orange is deploying redundant Cisco Service Selection Gateway (SSG), Subscriber Edge Services Manager (SESM) and Cisco Content Services Gateway (CSG) platforms, along with Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches. At hotspots, Cisco Catalyst 2900 or 3500 Series platforms provide switching capability while Cisco 1700 Series modular access routers connect Cisco Aironet wireless access points to the DSL network. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.cisco.com
