According to recent reports, Milton Keynes in the UK is set to become one of the first cities in the country to establish a city-wide, open-access Internet of Things (IoT) network.

For creating the open-access IoT network across the city, Milton Keynes has worked out a partnership with BT, base station builder Neul, as well as the Future Cities and Connected Digital Economies Catapults.

The Milton Keynes open-access IoT network project is supported by the Open University; and it essentially underscores an 18-month program which will demonstrate the ability of large scale machine-to-machine (M2M) infrastructure to handle a huge number of static and mobile sensors.

Milton Keynes Council is hopeful that the setting up of the open-access IoT network will attract technology firms to the city, enticing them to explore its potential as a testing ground for new services; thereby resulting in the creation of an ecosystem of IoT development start-ups.

Noting that the Milton Keynes Council wants to "encourage anybody who has a good idea to come forward," Geoff Snelson - the Council's director of strategy - said: "We are a very entrepreneurial council, and would rather be leading than following."