Belfast to roll out free Wi-Fi across the city
Belfast to roll out free Wi-Fi across the city
Belfast is aiming to offer 100 per cent free wireless internet across the city, according to reports.
Belfast has already been allocated £6 million of funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s £100m Urban Broadband Fund. It hopes to secure another £7.7 million to roll out free Wi-Fi throughout the city.
In order to be approved for the funding, Belfast City Council will need to prove that there is demand in the city for better broadband connections. Residents are being asked to complete an online survey to declare their support for the funding bid.
DUP Lord Mayor of Belfast, Gavin Robinson, is quoted by the Belfast Telegraph as saying, “This is an unprecedented opportunity to place Belfast at the leading edge of technology across Europe and give us the infrastructure to build successful international businesses and attract further foreign direct investment.”
He added, “This is not just a Belfast City Council bid — this will benefit the entire city and we need all to declare their support urgently as the closing date is just around the corner at the end of July.”
As part of its Super-Connected Belfast campaign, the council aims to offer city-wide access to speeds of at least 80Mbps, with high-speed ultrafast capacity (of at least 100MB) for businesses that can demonstrate they would benefit. It also aims to provide 100 per cent broadband coverage across the city and install a Wi-Fi infrastructure within the city centre and at transport hubs, conference venues and other key locations.
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said, “The council cannot achieve its objectives in isolation and I would call on all interested parties to get behind the plans, thereby demonstrating a commitment to making Belfast and, indeed, all of Northern Ireland an attractive proposition for living, working and investing.”
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