Public Wireless Network Security in UK Town
The town council of Blackpool, England has successfully installed a combined indoor and outdoor wireless LAN with the goal of regenerating and revitalizing the town by providing faster and safer technology for public employees, students and visitors. The network provides a high level of wireless network security for government agency employees, along with filtered content and access for students and teachers and guest network access for tourists and other visitors.
The trick to pulling off this combination is a wireless LAN strategy that uses a Fortinet appliance to enable firewalling, visibility and policy enforcement among wireless network users on a mostly Cisco-based network. The wireless network is delivered to outdoor users via the city council's street lighting infrastructure to hang wireless access points. For indoor wireless users, the network is delivered via Cisco wireless AP.