Bristol’s free wi-fi network is being expanded from 50 to 650 hotspots by end of the month as a result of a collaboration between the University of Bristol and the city council.
Free hotspots in libraries, care homes and public areas, including St Nicholas Market and parts of Ashton Court, will now also include those previously only available to the academic community in areas such as the university’s gardens and coffee shops.
The announcement was made ahead of a major international broadband technology conference in Bristol today and tomorrow at the UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre.
The Next Gen conference is expected to attract leading industry figures and companies, and Bristol City Council is one of the sponsors.
Council leader Barbara Janke said: “This announcement sends out a very clear signal to the broadband industry visiting Bristol that we have a very ambitious digital agenda.”
Nick Skelton, assistant director of IT at Bristol University, said: “This is a really positive step forward for both the city of Bristol and the university. This initiative supports our ongoing commitment to making our buildings and work accessible to the public. It will be an added bonus to our students too, who can remain logged onto the university's wireless network when working elsewhere in the city, in the council's libraries and other public spaces.”
