Adelaide will become the country’s first capital city to offer free Wi-Fi outdoors in the city centre under a new co-developed plan announced by the State and local governments.

 

The plan will see Wi-Fi services rolled out by the end of next year, with free coverage across the city in public areas, including Victoria Square, Rundle Mall and the Riverbank precinct.

 

Premier Jay Weatherill says free Wi-Fi in the city will help workers, shoppers, students, restaurant-goers, tourists and everyone who needs information on-the-go.

 

“Whether working on your laptop, browsing for bargains, checking transport times or finding somewhere to have dinner or see live music, free Wi-Fi will make people’s lives easier,” Mr Weatherill said.

 

The Premier said that the Government had just concluded a feasibility study and was now seeking proposals from IT businesses to develop and operate the Adelaide City Wireless Broadband project.

 

Similar public Wi-Fi initiatives have been successfully introduced in Prague, Singapore, Chattanooga, Wellington, Auckland and Luxembourg.

 

The State Government will contribute $1 million and the Adelaide City Council $500,000 to the initiative.