Free public WiFi to be switched on in Broadgate ahead of roll out next year

[dutchman]

Free public WiFi available in Coventry city centre is giving residents and visitors an early Christmas present



People will be able to benefit from the service in Broadgate by searching for CovFREEWIFI on their phones or mobile devices.

It is available to connect people ahead of Coventry’s Christmas lights switch-on this evening.

The council says it plans to roll it out across the whole of the city centre inside the ring road early next year.

Cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, councillor Jim O’Boyle, said: “Wi-Fi is an absolute necessity today for everybody so it’s great that people can access this free public Wi-Fi via their phones, laptops and computers.

“An added benefit is that it can increase access to the digital economy, improve digital skills and support business growth which is what Coventry is all about.”

IntechnologyWiFi works with local authorities across the UK to provide services to support and encourage social and economic activities and the growth of the digital economy, the council says.

Chief executive of IntechnologyWiFi Natalie Duffield said: “Free public WiFi for the benefit of residents, tourists and businesses in Coventry city centre is just the beginning.

“Our network also provides a city-wide platform for the Internet of Things (IoT), one of the first of its kind in the UK.

“This will allow the development of innovative and insightful new applications for use in transport, environment, healthcare, retail and leisure settings.

“The platform is secure and will be open to public and private sector organisations, from council departments which need to deliver public services online to start-ups with great ideas for new products.”

The council and IntechnologyWiFi worked on delivering a similar pilot service for visitors to this year’s Godiva Festival with over 3,000 people accessing the free public Wi-Fi at the event.