Hutt City centre to get free wi-fi
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Partnership between Hutt City Council and Smartlinx 3 will enable free wi-fi in central business district
By Randal Jackson | Wellington | Friday, 1 March, 2013 | 6 Comments
Hutt City’s central business district is about to get free wi-fi following a partnership arrangement between Hutt City Council and Smartlinx 3.
The agreement is for the implementation of public free wi-fi in the High Street, from Waterloo to Laings Road, and including The Dowse Square, Andrews Avenue, Margaret and Bunny streets.
Lower Hutt mayor Ray Wallace says: “This is another step forward as we continue on the Making Places initiatives toward revitalising the CBD. Everyone is on the move with mobile devices. People will be able to connect and undertake business outside their office.”
The system is expected to go live by May, depending on consents from building owners and the installation of equipment.
Smartlinx 3 managing director Roger MacDonald says the council is making good use of Smartlinx’s expanded fibre network by providing free wi-fi.
“This will stimulate life and business activity within the central city,” he says. “Consumers crave connectivity wherever they are.”
Smartlinx provides the connectivity for free wi-fi in nearby Petone, which went live two years ago.
The council hasn’t disclosed the costs of the new service.
On the other side of Wellington harbour, the Wellington City Council has been delivering free wi-fi for more than a year.
Its annual operating cost is $216,000. The council says it recovered $60,000 in 2012 from advertising on the service.
Around 35,000 people used the service in January this year. The council says 57 percent were either new users or had new devices.
Comments
Great news!
I think it will be great for the area, and from what I understand done at a fraction of the cost of the Welly "Free" wifi
Posted by Anonymous at 11:56:41 on March 5, 2013
I think it will be great for the area, and from what I understand done at a fraction of the cost of the Welly "Free" wifi
Posted by Anonymous at 11:56:41 on March 5, 2013
Hi speed no where
you would have to do more than give free wireless internet to revitalize lower hutt. Its a hole. As soon as they built queensgate that big aussie crapbox it killed the shopping district. Also the landlords are clueless idiots and the city is overrun by old people and inbreds. Im glad I moved to Auckland.
Posted by Anonymous at 20:23:49 on March 1, 2013
Posted by Anonymous at 20:23:49 on March 1, 2013
Hi speed no where
Agree. One can almost sense low IQ in the air, not even talking about kids around the mall but "the connected" with their long starring blank looks they give you.
Posted by Anonymous at 12:14:43 on March 2, 2013
Posted by Anonymous at 12:14:43 on March 2, 2013
captive portal
pleeease no captive portal or time limits - OK with traffic policing but lets make it easy to use - suggest one SSID and no password to connect - open access. Well done though.
Posted by geoff at 13:55:26 on March 1, 2013
Posted by geoff at 13:55:26 on March 1, 2013
Where is the BIG Auckland Council on all this.
And Auckland Council spends tens of millions to the benefit of the German firm SAP but ???? on looking after its ratepayers with 'free' wi-fi.
However it may be a blessing in disguise as the AKL Council has been caught out 'managing' individual councillors email.
Rodney Hide's evil love child is very much Robin Hood on P.
Posted by Mike at 11:00:18 on March 1, 2013
However it may be a blessing in disguise as the AKL Council has been caught out 'managing' individual councillors email.
Rodney Hide's evil love child is very much Robin Hood on P.
Posted by Mike at 11:00:18 on March 1, 2013
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