WiredScore has announced the launch of the Connectivity Ratings Scheme, an initiative developed in partnership with Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, designed to boost connectivity across London using the Wired Certification programme. Alongside this launch, 10 notable buildings in London have achieved Wired Certification, the international standard developed by WiredScore that distinguishes best-in-class internet connectivity in office buildings.
Fast and reliable internet connectivity is crucial for the support of business growth in London and the UK economy. The Wired Certification programme recognises commercial buildings that have achieved top-notch technology infrastructure. By distinguishing buildings with the best tech capabilities, Wired Certification makes information about Internet connectivity more transparent than ever before, enabling commercial buildings to benchmark themselves against a single standard and upgrade their offerings and allowing businesses to identify the best buildings in which to grow.
“My Connectivity Ratings Scheme launched in partnership with WiredScore will not only help businesses to identify where they can achieve the best broadband speeds, it will encourage landlords to up their game in the connectivity stakes,” said the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP. “By working to deliver world-class affordable connectivity for everyone we are ensuring that London has the digital infrastructure in place to stay ahead of our competitors.”
WiredScore was selected to implement the Connectivity Ratings Scheme, using their trusted Wired Certification standard as a part of the Mayor’s initiatives to provide better and stronger Internet connections across London. In the US alone, over 400 buildings totalling nearly 20 million m² (200 million ft²) have earned the Wired Certified stamp of approval, demonstrating industry demand for strong connectivity and the success of the Wired Certification standard in evaluating the connectivity and tech infrastructure of commercial buildings.
“Our mission at WiredScore is to create a world that is better connected and bring the importance of connectivity to the forefront of the global commercial real estate industry,” said William Newton, WiredScore’s UK Director. “We are thrilled to work with the Mayor as part of his extraordinary efforts to propel London’s technological advancements. With a global marketplace that is dependent on fast, reliable Internet, investing in connectivity means investing in the future of London businesses.”
The property owners whose buildings have already achieved Wired Certification include some of London’s biggest names, such as:
- Beacon Capital Partners – CityPoint
- British Land and Oxford Properties – The Leadenhall Building
- Derwent London – Johnson Building, Morelands Building, Tea Building, The Buckley Building
- Greater London Authority – London City Hall
- Land Securities & The Canary Wharf Group – 20 Fenchurch St
- Land Securities – 62 Buckingham Gate, One New Change
- Stanhope Plc. – Broadcast Centre at White City Place
To achieve Wired Certification, buildings must meet a set of standards developed in conjunction with experts in the telecom and property industries. These standards include the number and quality of internet service providers, the bandwidth capabilities, and the reliability of connections based on the building’s infrastructure.
London already ranks first on the European Digital City Index, followed closely by Amsterdam, Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Paris and Berlin. The EDCi measures how well cities across Europe support digital entrepreneurs, with the aim of supporting digital entrepreneurship all across Europe. Startups and scaleups in particular are reliant on the index to decide the strengths and weaknesses of local ecosystems, while policy makers rely on the index to benchmark cities and allocate resources for network expansion accordingly. As such, the Wired Certification standard implementation should help secure London in the top position of the EDCi.
Source: WiredScore
