A free public wireless (wi-fi) service is now available in the heart of Gloucester, part of a project by Gloucester City Council and BT, which aims to make Gloucester one of the best connected cities in the UK.
‘GloucesterCityWIFI’ enables shoppers, workers and visitors to connect to the internet free of charge from their mobile devices and tablets while in the city centre. They will be able to surf the net, keep up-to-date with Rugby World Cup news and scores, as well as access information on council services. The deal announced in June includes a new CCTV service and control room, provided by BT Redcare, and improved phone coverage for 4G and other new services. CCTV installers are AR Security.
After planning and surveying, the project team began installing new wireless access points and CCTV cameras to ensure the services were running ahead of the start of the Rugby World Cup; Gloucester is among hosts. Access to GloucesterCityWIFI is free and unlimited to all. It extends from Westgate and Eastgate, along Northgate and Southgate, and into Worcester Street towards Kingsholm Stadium.
Anyone wanting to use it goes to the ‘wi-fi’ setting on their device, then ‘choose networks’, where they’ll find the GloucesterCityWIFI welcome page. From there they’ll be able to look up information on council services or surf the world wide web.
Signs are being put up on lamp-posts around the city centre to let pedestrians know when they’re within the new free wi-fi zone.
Councillor Jennie Dallimore, cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “The launch of ‘GloucesterCityWIFI’ is testament to the hard work of everyone involved to get everything up-and-running in time to welcome thousands of visitors to the city for the Rugby World Cup. Our vision is to make this city one of the most connected places in the UK, and it has been great to work with BT on such a unique project.
“Not only is this project fantastic news for local residents, but it will also benefit local businesses, students, shoppers and people visiting the city. We’re hopeful it will help to put Gloucester on the map.”
Paul Coles, BT’s regional manager for Gloucestershire and the South West, said: “This is an exciting development for Gloucester at a time when the city will be very much in the Rugby World Cup spotlight. It will enable fans visiting the city centre to check scores and get other news as it breaks.
Brian Jackson, Head of Sales BT Redcare Surveillance added, “GloucesterCityWIFI provides people with a reliable and secure way of staying in touch whilst they are working, studying, shopping or socialising in and around the city centre, whilst the latest CCTV technology will help to keep them safe.”
It is the first time these three key elements – CCTV, wi-fi and enhanced mobile communications – have been developed in one project for one city by BT. The new CCTV service is being rolled out in two phases, with phase one now complete. BT will manage the combined services for up to ten years. People wanting to find their nearest hotspot can log onto: http://www.btwif.co.uk/find/.
