Image source: BAI Communications
Sunderland City Council is extending its free Wi-Fi network with a threefold increase in the number of access points.
Under its partnership with BAI Communications it has begun to expand availability beyond the city centre and coastal stretch between Roker and Seaburn, increasing the footprint by 1.5 sq km and providing much denser coverage.
The network has been certified as compliant with the Friendly Wi-Fi standard for public Wi-FI, and the council is planning to inform residents of the expansion through its ‘1, 2, FREE’ promotion campaign.
The move is part of the Sunderland Smart City programme, on which it is working with BAI to strengthen the local digital infrastructure and deploy new technologies. The new initiative has received an investment of £4.5 million from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Getting Building Fund and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Connected experiences
Liz St Louis, Sunderland’s director of smart cities, said: “We are passionate about creating better connected experiences for all, ensuring no one and nowhere is left behind as we continue to expand the availability of free, superfast public Wi-Fi in Sunderland city centre and the coast at Roker.
“This extended access will not only allow for greater digital inclusion, it will open up new opportunities for seamless connectivity from place to place. Our focus is on superfast, reliable and uninterrupted connectivity – our ultimate ambition is that wherever a person is in the city, they can connect and stay connected, no matter where they move to around Sunderland city centre and out to the coast at Roker.”
