Internode scores AU$1.5m deal to double free Adelaide Wi-Fi

Internode has announced an AU$1.5 million contract with the South Australian government to more than double the free wireless internet coverage available within the Adelaide CBD.

Announced this morning by Internode founder Simon Hackett, South Australia's Minister for Science and Information Economy Grace Portolesi, and Adelaide Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood, the deal will see internet service provider Internode provide wireless coverage to around 97 per cent of the northern half of the CBD, from Gouger and Wakefield streets to North Terrace, as well as increased coverage throughout the southern side of the CBD.

"Adelaide's expanded wireless coverage will make life even easier for residents, commuters, and visitors," said Internode founder Simon Hackett.

"It will give them fast free internet access throughout the CBD. Students can use this Wi-Fi to study. Business people can use it for remote access to their office networks."

The new network will work alongside Adelaide's current Citylan wireless project, which was initiated in 2003, also by Internode. The Citylan sites will each be upgraded to 802.11n capability to ensure compatibility with the new network, enhancing wireless speeds by up to five times. Internode will install over 200 Cisco outdoor wireless access points at various sites in the CBD, with fibre-optic cabling, supplied jointly by Internode, the City of Adelaide, and the SA government, to transmit data to Internode's core network.

The ISP has already begun work on the project, with majority completion forecasted by March 2014.

The intention to provide greater free Wi-Fi within Adelaide was announced in November last year.

In January, Wollongong City Council announced that it would be rolling out free Wi-Fi along the Crown Street Mall shopping precinct and in other major outdoor areas of the city. Last month, the City of Parramatta in Sydney's west also installed free Wi-Fi services across its CBD.