A free Wi-Fi network has been launched across Melbourne’s CBD. Once complete it will span the city, making it Australia’s largest free Wi-Fi network.
The VicFreeWiFi service can be used within all Melbourne CBD train stations, the Bourke St Mall, Queen Victoria Market, and South Wharf Promenade at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
This is the first of many Wi-Fi access points to be rolled out across the city as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $11 million Victorian Free Wi-Fi Pilot. The full network is expected to be up and running by the end of the year.
Once the network is complete, it will be the largest free public Wi-Fi network of its kind in Australia, covering an area of 600,000 square metres.
According to Andrews, the quality of the network is unparalleled in Australia and is on-par with world-class free public Wi-Fi networks in New York, London and San Francisco. The infrastructure will also be available for piloting future Smart City projects and for state and federal disaster response.
The five year-long project is being managed by telecommunications company TPG, allowing up to 250MB per device, per day. It does not require personal logins or feature pop-up advertising.
“This is just another reason why Victoria is the country’s home of innovation and technology – we really do have the best of everything, not only in Melbourne but our regional cities as well,” said Philip Dalidakis, Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade.