Sheffield City Council has revealed it is looking for a provider to
offer a free Wi-Fi service across the city’s Business
Improvement District (BID).
Under current plans, a contract would be awarded to an internet provider in
June, with the Wi-Fi service expected to be rolled in December this year.
The scheme, set to be approved by the Council’s cabinet next Wednesday
(18 January), would allow a provider to offer high-speed free connection in exchange for use of street
assets used to provide wireless communication services.
Councillor Leigh Bramall, cabinet member for business and economy at
Sheffield City Council, said: “This offer has the potential to place
Sheffield amongst the best connected cities in the country.
“Our ambition is to create the conditions that allow a super-fast,
digitally-connected and vibrant city to thrive. Our economy will benefit
and Sheffield will become more connected for people using the city
centre.
“But we’ll only appoint a provider on our terms – someone who will provide the service at no cost to the public or ourselves.
“We’ve tested the market and believe that a provider will be able to
offer the service we want for Sheffield in exchange for exclusive use of
council-owned street assets such as lampposts.”
The Sheffield Lib Dem opposition, who initially suggested the scheme, have also welcomed the news.
Councillor Richard Shaw said: “We’re really pleased to see the Labour Council have finally got a move on with this project after
we suggested it last year.”
“If this scheme is successful we hope that
they will be ambitious and look to roll out similar schemes in parks and
local district shopping centres.”
Under the proposed terms a provider
would offer a free-of-charge service, potentially including council-owned public
buildings such as the Winter Garden.
There are a number of free Wi-Fi
schemes operating in Sheffield, mainly in pubs and cafe chains, but these do not cover the open spaces
across the city.
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