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Sheffield set to be access all areas with free Wi-Fi heading to the city

Sheffield City Council is progressing with its pledge to be one of the best connected cities in the country after announcing a 10-year deal which will provide citizens and visitors with free, high-speed Wi-Fi in outdoor areas and public buildings.

The city council have teamed up with Sheffield-based Idaq Networks Ltd to provide the service by installing superfast and ultrafast broadband equipment to council-owned street lights and street furniture. The service will be simply accessed by connecting to Sheffield free Wi-Fi. 

Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for Business and investment at Sheffield City Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we are working with a Sheffield company to provide one of the best public access Wi-Fi services in the country. The network will make the city centre a more attractive place to spend time visiting and shopping. It will also provide free of charge internet access to those who may not be able to afford it. The network also offers exciting opportunities for developing new and innovative products and services in Sheffield, by local organisations.”

The network will be available from May, free of charge and help innovative digital projects get off the ground, such as those led by the Sheffield Universities and Sheffield Digital. Idaq will also use the network to provide a range of exciting cutting edge ultrafast broadband products and services to the residents and businesses of Sheffield city centre.

Olivia Blake, deputy leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “This announcement will help Sheffield to fulfil its digital ambitions. We are already the city with the most rapidly growing digital sector and now we are on the verge of having a free city wi-fi package that will benefit businesses, visitors and residents alike.”

The network will be rolled out in stages, the first stage will be live by May 2018 and the remaining stages by November 2018.

If you would like to contact Ryan Tute about this, or any other story, please email rtute@infrastructure-intelligence.com.