Sydney's free WiFi

Posted in NEWS by Rachael on Oct 07, 07:00AM

Free wireless internet in all metropolitan hubs. This was the promise made to Sydneysiders by the NSW Government back in 2006, with an implementation date estimated around the end of 2008. To date The Rocks seems one of the only locations in Sydney where this forecast has become a reality. After investigation TheVine found the NSW Department of Planning was unable to shed any light on a more realistic end-date – it appears to have dropped off the radar.

“Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority introduced free wireless internet access in The Rocks in 2006,” the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, which is responsible for the Rocks, explained in a statement to TheVine, adding, “The idea to establish The Rocks Hotspot was put forward by an Authority employee at an internal innovation forum.” The service is available at The Rocks Square and First Fleet Park and access is available in time-capped 30-minute blocks.

Telecommunication infrastructure is just one issue that will be on the agenda at the World Metropolis Congress in Sydney later this month. Other items will include climate change, community organisation and the creation of satellite CBDs to reduce the need for commuters, as well as striking the right balance with housing density.

Chris Johnson from the NSW Department of Planning is also director of the 2008 Metropolis Congress and told TheVine, “We’ve got to get the balance right. I mean, if you think about a lot of world cities they are almost all high-density. The low-density city is a bit of a luxury in this current age.”

Johnson explained that, with the average household size plummeting from about 5.5 people per dwelling 100 years ago to 2.5 today (and falling), space is a luxury most major cities simply cannot afford.

“The plan is still to get planning density up around transport nodes,” he said, “bus stations, railway stations and so forth – and along growth corridors like Parramatta Road. Quite a lot of work is being done to re-zone land and up-zone land, particularly around Parramatta to increase development potential.”

There will be a series of open sessions for the public at the Metropolis Congress (http://www.metropoliscongress2008.com/) on Saturday October 25, where interested citizens can attend to pose questions to city leaders from around the world and find out what is happening in terms of growth, globalization, and, of course, information technology.

As for Sydney’s WiFi woes, Johnson promised “there are big moves” to have free wireless internet access around Sydney city hubs in the pipeline. The many SmartPhone converts of the Harbour city will no doubt be waiting with bated breath and modems poised.

By Rachael Bolton