Fortnum & Mason replaces LAN

Free wi-fi to the dining table...

Luxury department store Fortnum & Mason has replaced its LAN infrastructure as part of a massive store refurbishment costing £24m.

The fixed and wireless data network, supplied by Alfred McAlpine - IT Services has been introduced by the department store's interim head of IT Mahshid Rafizadeh to support a radical upgrade of the London store's IT systems costing £1m over the last six months. It has been in operation since the end of September.

The rise of the luxury mobile

The 'brick' is definitely a thing of the past... click here to see how mobiles are going upmarket...

All floors of the building situated just west of Piccadilly Circus have been fitted out with a wi-fi network. This wireless capability is being used to provide free wi-fi to customers in the store's three restaurants as well as in a number of VIP areas.

Wi-fi also supports the chip and PIN pads used by staff in the restaurants at the store, which was founded in 1707 and is the oldest department store in London. The network will give the store more flexibility by allowing it to move cash desks and displays for different seasons and during sale times.

Rafizadeh said: "The wireless network extends to back offices on the fifth and sixth floors. If we need to expand [shop floor space], we can do that. We now have the freedom to do whatever we want."

The network also supports the store's EPOS and other back-office functions through a fixed connection. Rafizadeh told silicon.com she expects to have VoIP running on the network in the new year.