Is palace of Westminster wi-fi-enabled? If so, details please

Is the palace of Westminster, home to the house of 'commons' and the
house of 'lords', wireless-enabled?

If so, could someone post details please - including names of companies
involved.

Four years ago, the BBC said the building WAS wi-fi enabled:

<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1892510.stm>:

>>>the capital is home to more than 5,000 wireless networks that are
>>>being used in offices, government buildings, prisons, police stations
>>>and even at the Palace of Westminster.

A month ago, however, the 'Times' said it WASN'T:

<http://www.credo-group.com/comment/archives/category/wi-fi>:

>>>Today’s Times reports that a House of Commons Select Committee has
>>>called for the Palace of Westminster to be wireless internet enabled.

>>>What comes to light is that security is so tight for parliamentarians
>>>that all official laptops have their wireless functions disabled
>>>before they get their hands on them, and even those maverick enough
>>>to use their own are finding that they work in a Wi-Fi "blackhole".


Given the well-known propensity of MPs to swagger as if they were City
boys (although they do tend to obey matron), I strongly doubt that the
'Times' has got it right.

Info welcome.

--
banana "The thing I hate about you, Rowntree, is the way you
give Coca-Cola to your scum, and your best teddy-bear to
Oxfam, and expect us to lick your frigid fingers for the
rest of your frigid life." (Mick Travis, 'If...', 1968)

"banana" <banana@REMOVE_THIS.borve.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:HFoJpIAj$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is the palace of Westminster, home to the house of 'commons' and the
> house of 'lords', wireless-enabled?
>
Not systematically, although it is planned.

You can be damn sure the security will be as near airtight as you can get,
it certainly is for IP connections. Even inside the HoP IT security is very
strong, both physically and electronically.

HoC laptops are not TTBOMKAB currently WiFi enabled..

Hi Mark, thanks for your reply.

In article <dvct4n$o9q$(E-Mail Removed)>, R. Mark
Clayton <(E-Mail Removed)> writes

>"banana" <banana@REMOVE_THIS.borve.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:HFoJpIAj$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Is the palace of Westminster, home to the house of 'commons' and the
>> house of 'lords', wireless-enabled?
>>
>Not systematically,

Meaning?

>although it is planned.
>
>You can be damn sure the security will be as near airtight as you can get,
>it certainly is for IP connections.

Any idea which companies have got, or might get, the contracts?

Any involvement by Foxcom, the Israeli firm that set up the wireless
network used by the US Congress?

>Even inside the HoP IT security is very
>strong, both physically and electronically.

The former SAS guy got in in 2004 with those foxhunters though!

<http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1431414,00.html>

What did the 'Times' mean by 'Wi-Fi "blackhole"'? Is jamming used?

>HoC laptops are not TTBOMKAB currently WiFi enabled..

Dunno whether you saw this article:

<http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=15518>

--
banana "The thing I hate about you, Rowntree, is the way you
give Coca-Cola to your scum, and your best teddy-bear to
Oxfam, and expect us to lick your frigid fingers for the
rest of your frigid life." (Mick Travis, 'If...', 1968)

>>> Is the palace of Westminster, home to the house of 'commons' and the
>>> house of 'lords', wireless-enabled?
>>>
>>Not systematically,
>
> Meaning?

Individual members may have set up their own Wi-Fi, but it is not AFAIK
provided throughout the palace by central services.

>
>>although it is planned.
>>
snip
>
> Any idea which companies have got, or might get, the contracts?
>
No.
> What did the 'Times' mean by 'Wi-Fi "blackhole"'? Is jamming used?

No one else operates (e.g. commercially) inside the palace, or even nearby
(surrounded by Parliament Sq, an abbey, a river and Portcullis House, so
there won't be coverage. The palace itself is made from very thick masonary
that will attenuate signal. One might also suppose that parts of it have
had silver paper linings to act as Faraday cages to prevent electronic
evesdropping as long ago as the sixties.

>
>>HoC laptops are not TTBOMKAB currently WiFi enabled..
>
> Dunno whether you saw this article:
>
> <http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=15518>

Bluetooth is NOT WiFi, although it is radio.