Hotspots, hotzones and clouds could help put Bradford at the forefront of the information revolution and enable every home in the city access to broadband technology.

This is the vision of bmedia, the organisation which represents more than a hundred new media companies across the district.

This year could see pilot schemes in which areas such as Centenary Square are equipped with wireless wi-fi technology enabling people to access the internet from laptops without a hard wire connection.

Bmedia is working closely with Bradford Council to see whether other areas - including Lister Park, Saltaire, Bradford Interchange and Forster Square - could be part of this electronic umbrella.

"If you were in these areas with a laptop, you would be able to go online without requiring cable connections," said Imran Ali, the bmedia director behind the plan.

"Instead signals would be broadcast from small base stations direct to your laptop.

"People would no longer need to be at their desk to carry on business. They could work from any of the hotspots."

Mr Ali said a hotspot is a single area of broadband coverage, such as a park, while a hotzone is an area of linked hotspots. A cloud offers coverage over a wider area. Eventually, he said, every home in Bradford could have access to broadband.

And even newer technology could cover the whole of West Yorkshire.

"It's called Wi-max and offers interesting possibilities including sending a signal up to 30 or 40 kilometres," said Mr Ali, who is head of research and innovation for internet giant Wannado in Leeds. "It could bring broadband into every single home in West Yorkshire."

Bmedia, working closely with Bradford Council, believes a pilot scheme could be approved some time this year.

"Digital technologies can enhance the civic and commercial regeneration of the heart of the city," said Mr Ali.

"A wireless broadband infrastructure would provide the basis for commercial and civic exploitation of the internet in an urban space because it would remove practical barriers to internet access.

"This year we'll also have an exercise to identify interested parties, to put together a long-term vision and find suppliers and partners.

He stressed it was important to find out what people want rather than force ideas on them.

"My vision is ultimately to provide broadband coverage across the region. It's very leading-edge and innovative. It's all about what people need rather than just cool technology."

Similar ideas are being tried out elsewhere in Britain, notably the centre of Bristol.

But, in the United States, the idea has become controversial amid accusations from private companies that, when paid for by public money, such schemes are anti-competitive.

Bmedia can be contacted on (01274) 841326.