Subscribe to RSSAuck Council’s Low Cost Wi-Fi Plan
A low cost Wi Fi service for a wide area of Auckland’s inner city district including Newmarket and Parnell has been advocated by an Auckland city council committee and will be referred to the new Auckland Council in the hope it’s in place for the time of the RWC2011.
The model envisages a partnership with a network provider and a retail service provider to extend wireless broadband services in key zones across the city on a casual pay as you go basis.
The proposal would achieve coverage in 732 sites in 62 locations compared to the 150 nodes currently in place.
Current zones covered are Viaduct Basin, Westhaven, Aotea Square, Karangahape Road, Ponsonby Road, Parnell Rise, Newmarket, Remuera Road and Albert Park. Services are also delivered in cafes and restaurants within these zones.
The current tariffs are:
Hourly - $3 per hour for up to 60 megabytes
Daily - $6.50 per day for 160 megabytes
Weekly - $30 per week for 1.2 gigabytes.
A report to the city council’s City Development Committee, which approved the proposal in principle, said the tariffs compared favourably with hotels and serviced apartments (average $29 per day) and expensive cellular network services. Significant revenue streams would offset costs over time.
“The potential benefits for the city, visitors and businesses are enormous,” said Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar, committee chairperson. “They could contribute significantly to economic growth and help establish the region as a major events destination.”
With the council’s current service, all revenue flows to private sector partners. Under the proposed expanded service, council will look to develop a profit sharing arrangement with a retail partner.
The committee agreed to provide a detailed business case and funding model to the Auckland Council for approval and to instigate a formal tender process.
This week, Wellington City Council announced a Trade me proposal to offer free Wi Fi around the city’s waterfront area.
2 Comments
This is an area where Auckland is dropping the ball at present, wifi is close to non-existant around the CBD.
And when you do manage to connect, it’s way too expensive. Interesting that businesses around are using Free Wifi as an enticement like SkyCity Metro, and Giappo’s in close vicinity of each other… They definitely got my business few times because of it.