(By Email) Our Ref: MGLA031218-9660 21 January
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(By email) Our Ref: MGLA031218-9660 21 January 2019 Dear Thank you for your request for information which the GLA received on 3 December 2019. Your request has been dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) Our response to your request is as follows: I wish to see full copies of any and all meetings and emails with any of the following companies: InLink / LinkUK / Google / BT / Alphabet / Intersection / Primesight Regarding the InLink portals. Please find attached the information we have identified within scope of your request. Please note that some names of members of staff are exempt from disclosure under s.40 (Personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act. This information could potentially identify specific employees and as such constitutes as personal data which is defined by Article 4(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to mean any information relating to an identified or identifiable living individual. It is considered that disclosure of this information would contravene the first data protection principle under Article 5(1) of GDPR which states that Personal data must be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject. A small amount of information contained within the email of 8 November 2018 (11:48) is exempt from disclosure under the exemption for Commercial Interests at section 43(2) of the FoIA. Section 43(2) provides that information can be withheld from release if its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person. A commercial interest relates to a person’s ability to participate competitively in a commercial activity and in this instance, the information withheld from disclosure refers price estimates for advertisement space which is not publicly available, and disclosure would compromise inlinkuk’s competitiveness in the wider out of home market. Section 43(2) constitutes a qualified exemption from our duty to disclose information under the FOIA and consideration has to be given as to whether the public interest favouring disclosure of the information covered by this exemption outweighs the public interest considerations favouring maintaining the exemption and withholding the information. In this instance the GLA recognises the legitimate public interest in the transparency of information relating to inlink portals. In balancing the public interest in disclosure, we consider the greater good or benefit to the community as a whole if the information is released or not. In this case, it is felt that the public interest would not be met by revealing a small amount of commercially sensitive information which would be detrimental to the way in which inlinkuk operates within a competitive environment. If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact me, quoting the reference at the top of this letter. Yours sincerely Paul Robinson Information Governance Officer If you are unhappy with the way the GLA has handled your request, you may complain using the GLA’s FOI complaints and internal review procedure, available at: https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/governance-and-spending/sharing-our- information/freedom-information Paul Robinson From: bt.com Sent: 25 October 2016 10:45 To: bt.com Cc: linkuk.uk; linkuk.uk Subject: Investing in London's Digital Infrastructure: Free ultrafast Wi-Fi, mobile charging, calls and local information coming to London London Assembly Members and Mayoral Team You will be interested to see the details below confirming that we will be enhancing a number of our payphones from next year to support free ultrafast wifi, free calling to UK landlines and mobiles, the provision of local information via an embedded tablet and fast mobile charging. I’ve included a copy of the press release below for reference. The new units, LinkUK from BT, will be delivered thanks to a new partnership between BT, Intersection and Primesight, and will be supported by digital advertising. Additional details about our new partners are included at the end of the press release for your information too. The Link units provide an innovative new way to access public services and also can be used to capture real‐time data on the local environment, such as on air and noise pollution. The free ultrafast wifi, operating at speeds of up to one gigabit, will be valued by residents, businesses and visitors alike. As you will note, the first of the new Link units will installed in the London Borough of Camden, with coverage initially expanding across other central London boroughs. I hope that you share our excitment in being able to announce this new partnership, which will complement London’s extensive and growing fibre broadband and ubiquitous business‐grade digital connectivity. Do please come back to me if you have any questions. Regards General Manager, London, Southern and Eastern England | BT Group | Tel: +44 (0) 20 | E: BT.Com | t: @ This email contains BT information, which may be privileged or confidential. It's meant only for the individual(s) or entity named above. If you're not the intended recipient, note that disclosing, copying, distributing or using this information is prohibited. If you've received this email in error, please let me know immediately on the email address above. Thank you. We monitor our email system, and may record your emails. British Telecommunications plc Registered office: 81 Newgate Street London EC1A 7AJ Registered in England no: 1800000 1 DC16‐481 25 October 2016 FREE ULTRAFAST WI‐FI, MOBILE CHARGING, CALLS AND LOCAL INFORMATION COMING TO LONDON LinkUK from BT, supported by digital advertising, will roll out across the capital next year Rollout marks the next evolution of BT’s public payphones and brings digital innovation to the streets of London. Londoners will from the fastest free public Wi‐Fi available, free phone calls and a range of other free digital services from next year, thanks to a new partnership between BT, Intersection, the urban innovation company behind LinkNYC, and Primesight, a leading UK outdoor advertising company. A new service, called LinkUK from BT, will see sleek, ultramodern kiosks called Links rolled out to major high streets across the capital. Hundreds of users within range of a Link will be able to access free ultrafast Wi‐Fi on the move, with speeds of up to 1Gbps ‐ the fastest free public Wi‐Fi service available. Other free premium services available from the Links will include UK landline and mobile phone calls, mobile device charging and access to maps, directions and local services. These services will come at no cost to users or taxpayers as they will be funded by revenues from advertising on the Links’ digital displays. Rajesh Agrawal, London’s Deputy Mayor for Business, said: “I welcome this exciting new addition to London’s streets. Expanding London’s digital infrastructure is a priority for the Mayor, and LinkUK can play a big part in improving connectivity for Londoners and visitors to our city, while reducing street clutter by upgrading and reducing the number of phone boxes. I look forward to working with BT, Intersection and Primesight to see how we can roll LinkUK across the capital, and to explore its future potential. “London is already widely regarded as one of the technological capitals of the world but the Mayor is determined to improve connectivity across the city to ensure we maintain that position.” The rollout also marks the next evolution of BT’s public payphone service as hundreds of BT’s existing phone boxes across the capital will be replaced by the new Links. As well as providing a far greater range of services to the public for free, the Links will bring digital innovation to the streets of London, while helping to reduce the amount of clutter on the street. This is because they take up less space on the pavement and will be installed in smaller numbers than the existing payphones they replace. Gerry McQuade, CEO, BT Wholesale and Ventures, said: “We’re evolving the phone box to make it relevant in the 21st century by offering people ultrafast Wi‐Fi and a range of digital and information services entirely for free. London is one of the greatest cities in the world and it’s entirely fitting that it becomes the first UK city to from the Links. But we will be rolling out many more Links to the other great cities across the UK over the coming months as we look to transform the look and functionality of our public payphones.” The new Links will also feature sensors, which can capture real‐time data relating to the local environment, including for example, air and noise pollution, outdoor temperature and traffic conditions. This could potentially introduce an exciting new range of smart services to local councils and communities based on the Internet of Things. Up to 100 Links are expected to be installed in the London Borough of Camden ‐ with the first ones due to appear in 2017. At least 750 Links will be installed across central London and in major cities across the UK over the next few years. London is second only to New York in welcoming Links to its streets, which were first installed in January this year as part of LinkNYC. Councillor Camden Cabinet member for Finance, Technology & Growth, said: “Camden council wants to improve digital connectivity and be at the forefront of change. “The plans for Link kiosks submitted by LinkUK from BT represent a really exciting step forward. They are proven and popular on the streets of New York City. If approved, will mean that Camden is the first council in the UK to 2 host these innovative services. It will be a further step as Camden council seeks to improve digital access and better serve residents, businesses and visitors alike.” Dan Doctoroff, Chairman & CEO at Intersection, said: “As a global hub for media and technology, London is the ideal city for Intersection to invest in the expansion of connectivity, digital innovation and our business.