This week The City of York revealed it wants to be the ‘Best
connected City in the UK by the end of 2015’. Quite a goal for a city which
doesn't yet have 4G connectivity. However, it has been awarded £2.7 million in
funding as part of the Super Connected Cities Programme which will allow it to
install large television screen in city areas, Wi-Fi and provide digital
education.
Working with equipment supplied by Ruckus Wireless, York
hopes to bring in a scalable network that will reach the outskirts of the city
as well as inner city areas. Even providing free Wi-Fi to skate parks, open air
theatres and shopping areas.
The council’s hope is to enable residents and visitors to
the city access to all the relevant information services allowing them to have
the ultimate ‘visit’ to the city. Which makes sense, if you’re travelling
somewhere new and you need to know where to go for dinner, see if there’s an
offer on at the local theatre or even too check train times, why should you
have to use your own data bundle? Surely this information should be made
available to you, for free?
And with the information being made available wirelessly,
this will also afford the council the luxury of reducing its printed material.
Who needs a printed map of the city when you can connect for free and follow
your phones sat nav? The end of printed voucher codes for restaurants, just
connect and show your code?
Is there a downside? We can’t see one. Shops will gain
footfall as people are more likely to stay longer browsing your store if they
can connect for free. Restaurants and coffee shops will see punters staying for
longer drinking their coffee and ordering another. And teens will always be
happy to download the latest track to play while using the local skate park.
With cities growing at an outstanding rate and house prices
still at a high despite the global recession it’s also only right the council
are pushing the Wi-Fi further afield than just the town centre locations. Not
only does this allow you to connect without being in the centre of town, but it
also allows those premises on the outskirts to advertise their wares and
encourage footfall. Out of town shopping centres usually frequented by the
masses on Sundays for DIY missions become a more social area with the use of
free Wi-Fi, soon a coffee shop pops up and the DIY shop becomes far more
pleasurable than just a trip for a pot of paint.
Many often comment the internet has made us less social with
people communicating via email, text or social networking sites rather than
face to face. Which in one aspect is certainly true but, by bringing Wi-Fi to
outside space, and making it free, it allows users to interact and connect
socially.
With Wi-Fi being rolled out across town centres and cities
up and down the country, we are soon to become a truly connected nation. And
don’t be fooled that this will only appeal to the youth market frantically
tapping into their phones. The 60 plus surfer will also be able to connect
using their phone or laptop. Why stay in and surf online when you can pop into
town and connect wirelessly for free and grab a sandwich and meet your
neighbour at the same time.
With money comparison sites dominating the internet and social
networking sites the most frequently visited of all, councils need to ensure
they take their piece of the Wi-Fi pie and offer their residents an exceptional
level of coverage. The benefits far outweigh the initial cost and with the
government keen for us all to be connected may even be free.
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