Cloud History
Founded in 2003, The Cloud has evolved from an indoor hotspot provider into the market leading European public access provider of Wi-Fi services.
The Cloud builds and operates low cost high performance public access Wi-Fi networks for international retailers, restaurants, leisure and hotel chains. With the expertise and a variety of outdoor city networks, including Gothenburg, Stuttgart and The City of London, we have started the process of meshing the indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi networks.
The business has services operating across 7,000 locations with 22,000 Wi-Fi network access points in 12 European countries. We partner with and deliver seamless services to world leading telecommunication companies working closely with device manufacturers seeking to deliver high quality simple Wi-Fi access.
The Cloud has offices in London, Munich and Stockholm with around 100 employees.
History and key milestones
- Jan 2010
- FastConnect is launched to make Wi-Fi universally simple
- Jan 2010
- Naunton Dickins joins the company as UK Managing Director
- Nov 2009
- Launch of small screen device services
- Oct 2009
- Launch of new Palm Pre mobile smartphone with the Cloud / O2
- Sep 2009
- Cloud network locator launched for the iPhone
- Sep 2009
- The Times Private Tech Track 100 survey ranks The Cloud 10th fastest growing company
- Jun 2009
- The Company moves its UK Headquarters to St Albans
- Dec 2008
- Roll out new user centric service platform
- Oct 2008
- €15 million funding round from Ferd Ventures, existing investors and GP Bullhound
- Sep 2008
- Ranked 23rd in the Times Tech Track 100
- Jan 2008
- Acquisition of hotel Wi-Fi specialist GANAG in Germany
- Nov 2007
- UK launch of iPhone with O2
- Oct 2007
- McDonald’s takes free Wi-Fi mainstream with The Cloud
- Oct 2007
- BBC signs deal to extend the public’s access to its online content
- Apr 2007
- Launch of largest European outdoor Wi-Fi network in City of London Network
- Jan 2007
- Steve Nicholson joins the Cloud as CEO
- Sep 2006
- Telenor partners with The Cloud Nordics
- Apr 2006
- iPass joins the network
- Dec 2005
- Canova Wireless acquired in the UK
- Dec 2005
- The World Economic Forum Announces New Class of Technology Pioneers for 2006: The Cloud Networks Selected
- Dec 2005
- 802.1x Wi-Fi access pilot with Intel in Stockholm
- Nov 2005
- Nintendo Wi-Fi service launched
- Sept 2005
- Canary Wharf switch-on, Europe's largest business district Wi-Fi Zone
- Sept 2005
- Exilan acquired
- July 2005
- Vodafone Germany switch-on
- July 2005
- Skype Wi-Fi service launched in UK and Sweden
- July 2005
- Net Chek-In acquired in Germany
- May 2005
- Roll out begins in Germany
- Apr 2005
- The Cloud selected for 2005 Red Herring 100 Europe
- Feb 2005
- Airnyx acquired in Germany
- Feb 2005
- Real Business magazine votes The Cloud one of its '50 to Watch' businesses for 2005
- Jan 2005
- Roll out begins in Nordics
- Sep 2004
- Integrated WLAN and 3G service launched for 02
- Dec 2003
- The Cloud wins the Brainheart European Wi-Fi Award 2003
- May 2003
- Network reaches 1000 sites
- Apr 2003
- BT Openzone becomes the first Service Provider on the Cloud network
- Mar 2003
- Network roll-out begins
- Jan 2003
- The Cloud founded