Dublin City Council are planning to bring free Wi-Fi back to Dublin, almost two years after a similar initiative fell through.
The previous initiative was first rolled out at the beginning of 2013 at various locations throughout the city centre with the service being provided by Spanish company Gowex. However, Gowex filed for bankruptcy in July 2014 with the free Wi-Fi service in Dublin subsequently coming to an end in December of 2015.
Since then, Dublin has not had free Wi-Fi throughout the city but the intention is now to change that, something which will be good news for students, especially when it comes to nights out.
We all know it’s best to stay with others on and after a night out. After all, walking home alone at night is something that a lot of people try to avoid normally – never mind after a night out. As for those not from Dublin, who don’t know the area as well as others, it can be even more daunting trying to find your way around the city or a way to get home.
The reintroduction of free Wi-Fi throughout the city centre, if it is to go ahead, could go a long way to helping solve the issue. Be it a simple check to use Google Maps – which you can also, before heading out, download an area from to your phone to use offline to get directions – or to check the timetables or find a bus stop for public transport, it could be beneficial for many people of all ages.
Jamie Cudden, the council’s smart cities officer, told fora.ie that while it is their aim to introduce it, a full public Wi-Fi service may not be feasible. However, a ‘proof of concept’ is being developed and pilot programmes should be rolled out over the next six months.
However, a ‘proof of concept’ is being developed and pilot programmes should be rolled out over the next six months.
“That’s absolutely the intention. Everyone has connectivity on their phones, so unless the Wi-Fi is super fast it won’t really be a differentiator. (It has to be) better than the average phone connectivity. We’re talking to a number of companies at the moment and there is a selection of things we’re looking at,” Cudden said.
Gerard Grimes