Adelaide’s 10 Gigabit network could be used to speed up free city wi-fi
ADELAIDE City Council’s super-fast 10-gigabit internet network could be expanded to include the city’s widely panned free wi-fi service. Also on its wishlist is a tram to North Adelaide, upgrades of Grenfell and Currie streets, and revamped Adelaide Railway Station platforms.
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ADELAIDE City Council’s super-fast 10-gigabit internet network could be expanded to include the CBD’s widely panned free Wi-Fi service, if the State Government helps fund it, Lord Mayor Martin Haese says.
The council and TPG Telecom are rolling out the $12 million project across the CBD and North Adelaide, which is forecast to give Adelaide faster and more affordable internet than Seoul, home to the world’s best broadband, as soon as the first 500 buildings are connected.
The rollout has begun six months earlier than expected after the council received 1100 building registrations to be hooked up to the data network.
Mr Haese said the council would also push the State Government for a tram to North Adelaide, upgrades of Grenfell and Currie streets, and upgraded Adelaide Railway Station platforms so interstate trains could terminate there.
He said the Ten Gigabit Adelaide network was currently funded by the council and TPG, and there was potential for expanding the reach of the service should either the state or federal government contribute funding.
“If you view Ten Gigabit Adelaide as almost a foundational technology infrastructure, there are a raft of Smart City projects which can be leveraged on the back of it,” he said.
“One of them is a complete review of the free Wi-Fi system in the city. In many ways, it’s widely used but as a consequence of being widely used it slows down its speed and Ten Gigabit Adelaide could enable a much faster city Wi-Fi experience.”
The current free Wi-Fi system in the city and North Adelaide was launched in 2014 as a $1.5 million joint initiative between the State Government, the council and Internode, the largest public network in the country.
TPG took over the network after it bought iiNet in 2016.
But the service has been panned for being unreliable and a turn-off for tourists, prompting complaints about it from inside the council itself.
Mr Haese said making Adelaide’s free Wi-Fi service quicker would have a significant impact on the city’s ability to attract people.
“Every tourist, every city visitor, every student looks for wi-fi,” he said. “Wi-Fi is a currency; it really is.”
Jtwo Solutions director John Lindsay, who helped build the free Wi-Fi network, said it would be a smart move by the council and State Government.
“It would allow for the improvement of the free network and allow it to reach its potential,” he said. “I really think it would be an exciting move if they go down that route … free wi-fi has always been such a big challenge but it is just so useful for a city.”
The State Government said it would work with the council to promote and capitalise on Ten Gigabit and the Government’s Gig City network.