YORK city centre is to become a free Wi-Fi zone in a major boost to shoppers, visitors and businesses.
St Helen’s Square and Coney Street are to pilot a free wireless connection which would be open to laptops, smart phones or any other internet-enabled devices in the area.
The Digital York scheme is part of City of York Council’s Reinvigorate York Initiative, which aims to improve and enhance the quality of the city’s public spaces.
Organisers said that, working with partners, the free pilot would improve the city centre for visitors, businesses and local people.
Once the trial connection was live in November, local businesses would be consulted on their views and experiences of the Wi-Fi, with a view to extending the zone across the area within the city walls.
They said a number of wireless access points would be strategically and discreetly located along Coney Street and in St Helen’s Square, with each of the units connecting into the existing city-wide fibre council network.
Public access would be around 2.4Ghz, providing the same level of internet access as that at York Explore Library Learning Centre.
Council leader James Alexander said this was an “exciting, innovative and dynamic proposal” that would position York as one of only a handful of town and cities in the country offering free Wi-Fi.
“Internet access is now an essential part of our everyday working and private lives,” he said.
“Some cities on the continent provide free Wi-Fi access, but very few do in the UK.
“The Digital York scheme is part of a step change in the ambition we have for the city and we hope that the initial trial will be successful and provide a real boost to local businesses, visitors and shoppers.”
Adam Sinclair, chair of York Business Forum, commended the scheme. “Many innovative opportunities can stem from a forward thinking scheme such as this,” he said.
Free Wi-Fi zone is a real boon
THE news that a free Wi-Fi zone is to be set up in York city centre should be warmly welcomed – not just by smart phone and laptop users, but by us all.
York has always prided itself on its fantastic history and heritage, but it is important that the city also moves forward as a modern, vibrant place in which to live and work.
Top marks then to City of York Council, which is piloting a free Wi-Fi zone in St Helen’s Square and Coney Street.
The move will allow people to access the internet for free in that part of the city centre and, if it is successful, the project could be extended to other parts of the city.
It is all part of the Digital York scheme, part of City of York Council’s “Reinvigorate York” project, which aims to improve the city’s public spaces, and which is an important step in ensuring York remains a forward-thinking city.
Council leader James Alexander says it is a dynamic move and says York is now among only a handful of towns and cities in the country offering free Wi-Fi, while York Business Forum chairman Adam Sinclair says the move could open the door to further innovation.
Here’s hoping he is right, and that this exciting and significant development for York will bring real benefit to shoppers, residents, tourists and local businesses alike.
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