Wireless hotspots will be banned from London Olympics

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London will officially commence this Friday, the 27th of July. If you’re planning to spend your weeks watching the games, you might want to leave that wireless router behind. That’s because the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) is adding wireless access points and 3G hubs on the list of restricted items, let alone walkie-talkies, phone jammers, radio scanners, laser pointers, and strobe lights.

“Personal/ private wireless access points and 3G hubs (smart devices such as Android phones, iPhone and tablets are permitted inside venues, but must not be used as wireless access points to connect multiple devices),” LOCOG writes. This is bad news for journalists who will most probably rely on their mobile hotspots during the big event to cover the latest sports news. Also, LOCOG did not explain the reason behind the restriction, although it could be possible that they want to ensure crisp Wi-Fi signals without interference in the Olympic venues.

Gene Ryan Briones
Categories: General
Tags: WiFi